A-19 Distress Predicts Poorer Cognitive Performance At Post-Injury In Concussed Athletes

Abstract Purpose: This study evaluated the consistency between athletes’ self-reported cognitive symptoms and test performance. Methods: The sample included 784 Canadian Football League athletes who underwent standardized testing with (ImPACT) Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-18) at baseline. Over 2 consecutive seasons, 46 players were diagnosed concussions following assessment team physicians within 48 hours; 10 eliminated due to missing data. Five (feeling slowed down, feeling in a fog, not right, difficulties concentration, memory) used create composite score (Cog). Cog index, depression, anxiety, total index scores from BSI, 5 ImPACT domains correlated baseline post-injury. History of learning disabilities, ADHD, psychiatric diagnosis, history concussion co-variates. Results: There no significant correlations Cog, anxiety or BSI At post injury there scores. In contrast, negative found Anxiety verbal memory (r = 0.67, p < 0.01), visual 0.68, visual-motor processing speed 0.48, 0.05). addition, 0.51, 0.05) reaction time 0.55, Conclusions: Self-reported do correlate poorer outcomes our professional football players. However, distress post-injury was significantly performance, suggesting psychological variables may play role functioning.