Does premorbid depression influence post-concussive symptoms and neuropsychological functioning?

We examined the contribution of premorbid affective disturbance to persistent post-concussive symptoms and neuropsychological functioning following a mild traumatic brain injury. No differences were observed on self-reported post-concussive symptoms, MMPI scales, or neuropsychological measures between two case-matched groups of patients with and without a history of pre-injury depression. Clinicians are urged to use caution in attributing post-concussive symptoms or neuropsychological deficits to the presence of a pre-existing affective disorder.