Associations between brain drawings following mild traumatic brain injury and negative illness perceptions and post-concussion symptoms at 4 years. (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Kelly M; Theadom, Alice; Barker-Collo, Suzanne; Broadbent, Elizabeth; Feigin, Valery L
• Other Names: Feigin V non-byline-author.; Barker-Collo S non-byline-author.; McPherson K non-byline-author.; Theadom A non-byline-author.; Jones K M non-byline-author.; Jones A non-byline-author.; Ao B Te non-byline-author.; Kydd R non-byline-author.; Barber P Alan non-byline-author.; Parag V non-byline-author.; Ameratunga S non-byline-author.; Starkey N non-byline-author.; Dowell A non-byline-author.; Kahan M non-byline-author.; Christey G non-byline-author.; Hardaker N non-byline-author.; Brown P non-byline-author.
• Is Part Of: Journal of health psychology. Volume 24:Number 10(2019)
• Page Start: 1448
• Page End: 1458
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: concussion -- drawings -- illness perception -- post-concussion symptoms -- traumatic brain injury; Clinical health psychology -- Periodicals; 613.019
• DOI: 10.1177/1359105317695430
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-1053

Abstract

Characteristics of patient's drawings have been linked to short-term health-related outcomes across a range of health conditions. This study examined associations between brain drawings at 1 month and illness perceptions and post-concussion symptoms at 4 years in 92 adults following mild traumatic brain injury. Greater damage depicted at 1 month was correlated with perceived greater impact on life, duration of injury, symptoms of brain injury, emotional consequences and late-onset post-concussion symptoms. Results indicate that brain drawings shortly after traumatic brain injury offer a simple and insightful tool that may help to identify those who need additional support to improve long-term outcomes.