The role of anxiety sensitivity in symptom perception after minor head injury: An exploratory study

Primary objective: This exploratory study examined the role of anxiety sensitivity (AS) as a factor contributing to outcome following minor head injury (MHI). Recent research has implicated AS in perception of pain intensity after orthopaedic trauma. AS, therefore, has the potential to mediate perception of and reaction to post-concussion symptoms at an early stage of recovery, increasing the risk of a protracted and incomplete recovery. Research design: A case series analysis. Methods and procedures: Sixty-three head trauma patients referred from an accident and emergency unit to an acute minor head injury service were compared to 58 patients who had suffered recent orthopaedic injury. Participants completed the Rivermead Post-Concussion Questionnaire (RPQ), to determine the number and severity of head injury-related symptoms, and the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), to measure their emotional reaction to symptoms. Main outcomes and results: Significant between-group differences were found for both RPQ and ASI measures. The MHI group reported more serious symptoms. Both groups also recorded significant positive correlations between the RPQ and ASI measures, with a stronger relationship recorded for the MHI group. Conclusions: The results support the impression that anxiety sensitivity may be an important factor mediating perception of symptoms after injury, potentially influencing speed and quality of recovery.