Anxiety Sensitivity and Alexithymia as Mediators of Postconcussion Syndrome Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Objective: To examine the influence of anxiety sensitivity (AS) and alexithymia as potential mediators for the development psychological distress and post concussion syndrome (PCS) after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Participants: Sixty-one patients with mTBI and demographically matched healthy controls (N=61). Measures: 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Rivermead Post Concussion Questionnaire. Results: The mTBI group reported significantly higher levels of AS, alexithymia, psychological distress, and post concussion (PC) symptom scores compared to controls. High AS and alexithymia in the mTBI group was associated with a greater number of PC symptoms and higher levels of psychological distress compared to patients scoring low on these measures, and healthy controls. In the mTBI group a combination of AS and low mood explained 52.6% of the variance in PC symptom reporting. A combination of trait-anxiety, alexithymia and PC symptoms was able to explain 77.2% of the variance in levels of mood. Conclusion: A combination of low mood and high AS may act as a psychological diathesis for the development of persisting post concussional symptoms. Early identification could provide a focus for early intervention to prevent the development of post concussion syndrome after mTBI