"Alone in the dark": A qualitative study of treatment experiences among young adults with a recent concussion and anxiety.
Brenda C Lovette, Millan R Kanaya, Victoria A Grunberg and 3 others
PMID 37497984WHAT IT FOUND
Young adults with recent concussions and anxiety found provider advice like strict rest and vague instructions isolating and confusing.
They wanted clear guidance on pacing activities, early referrals for mental health support, and concrete help with daily life accommodations.
Key findings
01Participants frequently felt dissatisfied with provider recommendations, describing avoidant strategies like global rest as 'tortuous' and noting that limiting cognitive activity was 'impossible' due to work and school demands.
02Patients reported that rehabilitation referrals often came too late, after they had been struggling for some time, and that providers rarely addressed mood or coping in evaluations.
03Self-managed strategies that participants found helpful included activity pacing with timers, exercise, social connection, and acceptance-based coping, though they struggled to implement academic accommodations.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (17 participants) and mostly white and non-Hispanic, limiting generalizability to diverse populations. Data was collected at a single time point, so it does not capture how treatment needs change over time. Participants were excluded if they had recent CBT or regular mindfulness practice, which may bias the sample toward those with less experience with these interventions. Findings are based on self-reported perceptions and recollections, which may differ from actual medical records or provider perspectives.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these patient preferences as evidence that specific interventions like acupuncture or cannabis are effective for concussion recovery. These are subjective reports of what patients tried and liked, not controlled outcomes.