Post-concussion syndrome
Though no universally accepted definition of postconcussive syndrome exists, most of the literature defines the syndrome as the development of at least 3 of the following symptoms: headache, dizziness, fatigue, irritability, impaired memory and concentration, insomnia, and lowered tolerance for noise and light. One complication in diagnosis is that symptoms of PCS also occur in people who have no history of head injury, but who have other medical and psychological complaints. In one study 64% of people with TBI, 11% of those with brain injuries, and 7% of those with other injuries met the DSM-IV criteria for post-concussion syndrome. Many of these PCS sufferers were misdiagnosed as having other unrelated conditions due to commonality of symptoms. (see diagnosis, below).
British Columbia Postconcussion Symptom Inventory
BC-PSI items
For most patients with MTBI the cognitive, psychological, and psychosocial symptoms do not last longer than three to six months.. Those in which the symptoms persist longer may be diagnosed with postconcussion syndrome (Ruff, 2005).
PCS is recognised in International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (ICD-10;(World Health Organization, 1992) and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV;(American Psychiatric Association,2000). PCS symptoms may include headaches, dizziness, light and noise sensitivity, nausea, fatigue, sleep disturbance, irritability, temper problems, emotional problems, poor concentration, and memory impairment.