Effects of mTBI with loss of consciousness on neurobehavioral symptoms, depression, and insomnia in former collegiate and NFL football athletes

Abstract

Objective: Considering that diagnostic decisions about mTBI are often predicated on clinical symptom criteria, it is imperative to determine which initial presentation features of mTBI have prognostic significance for identifying those at high risk for long-term functional impairment. Setting: Zoom interview Participants: Male, former NCAA Division I, and professional-level National Football League (NFL) athletes (n = 177) between the ages of 27 and 85 (M = 54.1, SD = 14.7). Design: Cross-sectional case-control. Main Measures: History of mild TBI, history of loss of consciousness (LOC), depression symptoms, insomnia, neurobehavioral symptoms. Results: Number of mTBI exposures did not predict neurobehavioral symptoms (B = 0.21, SE = 0.18, p = 0.23), but number of mTBI + LOC events did (B = 2.27, SE = 0.64, p =