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Psychiatry and Neuroscience Update pp 293–303Cite as

Neuropsychological Disorders After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or Concussion

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Abstract

Mild traumatic brain injury is one of the most frequent pathologies seen in clinical practice. Patients are usually asymptomatic but sometimes present with minor symptoms. The symptoms may include organic complaints such as headaches and dizziness or more psychological ones such as anxiety or insomnia. When these symptoms continue for longer than a few weeks, we consider post-concussional syndrome. However, if no structural changes are evident in radiological images, it suggests subtle cellular changes, which alter the cerebral function and translate into a mental disturbance. Little is known about the mechanisms underlying this entity. The latest evidence regarding various biochemical and biomechanical changes involved in the development of post-concussional syndrome is taken in consideration. Different types of cellular death, cytoscheletal changes, and axonal transport dysfunction, among others, have been suggested to play a role. Most studies suggest the axonal dysfunction as being responsible for it.

Finally, we discuss clinical aspects and the management of post-concussional syndrome as well as touching on predisposing factors. We revise the most common symptomatology, both organic and psychological. A usual approach to various symptoms is taken into account, however, the most effective treatment is the passing of time. In fact, most studies show that being asymptomatic after 1 year is the norm.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) (UFI 11/32) and the Basque Government (GIC 794/13) for their support

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital de Basurto, Bilbao, Spain

    Garazi Bermúdez Vilar

  2. Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Neuroscience (LaNCE), Department of Neuroscience, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain

    José Vicente Lafuente

  3. Group Nanoneurosurgery, BioCruces Health Research, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain

    José Vicente Lafuente

Authors
  1. Garazi Bermúdez Vilar
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  2. José Vicente Lafuente
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Correspondence to Garazi Bermúdez Vilar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Guaymallen Mendoza, Argentina

    Pascual Ángel Gargiulo

  2. Member of the Council of the Institute of Neurobiology (Buenos Aires); Member of the Board of Certification, National Academy of Medicine (Argentina), Psychiatrist by University Complutense of Madrid and University of Buenos Aires; Former Director of National Institute of Mental Health (Argentina), Cuyo, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Humberto Luis Mesones Arroyo

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Vilar, G.B., Lafuente, J.V. (2015). Neuropsychological Disorders After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or Concussion. In: Gargiulo, P., Arroyo, H. (eds) Psychiatry and Neuroscience Update. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17103-6_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17103-6_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-17102-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-17103-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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