B-141: The Ever-Present Voice: Negative Illness Perception Influences Recovery After Pediatric Concussion
Abstract
Objective: Patients’ perceptions and interpretations of their health conditions have been shown to influence clinical outcomes across medical populations. The Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (Brief-IPQ) assesses cognitive and emotional perceptions of illness. In concussion, negative beliefs may impact recovery; however, research involving pediatric populations is limited. This study examines the relationship between illness perception and persisting symptoms after concussion (PSaC) in a pediatric sample. Method/Data Selection: Thirty-nine patients (Age M=15.69, SD=2.88) seen for neuropsychological evaluation at a rural academic medical center completed the Brief-IPQ and a symptom inventory (PCSI). Participants were 4.5 months post-injury (SD=7.4), majority white (97.4%) and male (59%), with an FSIQ of 98.88 (SD=13.30). Spearman correlations examined variable relationships. Regressions were performed to explore prediction models. Results/Data Synthesis: Significant correlations were found between Brief-IPQ total score and months since injury (rs(36)=.387,p=.016), PCSI total symptom score (rs(32)=.368,p=.032), PCSI emotional symptoms (rs(32)=.491,p=.003), and PCSI item “feeling differently than before” (rs(32)=.594,p<.001). The addition of Brief-IPQ total score to time since injury resulted in a statistically significant model predicting PCSI emotional symptoms post-injury (p = .013). Brief-IPQ total score explained an additional 23.9% of the variance and emerged as a significant predictor (β=.491,p=.004). Brief-IPQ total score also significantly predicted physical symptoms (p=.044) and total symptom burden (p=.035). Conclusions: In a sample of youth presenting with PSaC, negative illness-related beliefs appear to influence prolonged recovery. Measuring this variable provides clinicians with a tool to better support children after concussion, while also recognizing a potential modifiable factor that should be addressed in acute management through evidence-based psychoeducation.