A-23 Mental Health Outcomes of Elite Athletes Following Sport Related Concussion

Abstract

Abstract Objective Investigation of anxiety and depression symptoms at baseline and following sport related concussion in a population of professional and collegiate football players. Method A quasi-experimental prospective longitudinal design was implemented. Participants included 198 Canadian Football League and University of Alberta varsity football players at baseline. Additionally, this study tracked 13 concussed athletes, 12 orthopaedic control athletes, and 15 healthy control athletes over approximately a 2 month period. Statistical analysis included an ANOVA and repeated measures ANOVA to identify differences in mental health at baseline as well as after injury at 3 time points (24-48 hours post injury, asymptomatic, and 1 month post return to play). Results At baseline, players who had a history of 1 or more concussions reported a greater number of anxiety and depression symptoms in comparison to players who did not have a history of concussion (F(2, 197) = 66.75, (p =.000)). At the group level, there were no differences in anxiety and depression symptoms between players who sustained a concussion, orthoepic injury, or no injury across the four time points measured (depression (F(3, 58) = 1.05, (p =.404)