Sport-related concussion is associated with elevated anxiety, but not attentional bias to threat

• Published in: Brain injury 2020-02, Vol.34 (3), p.363-368
• Main Authors: Carlson, Joshua M., Kangas, Keara J., Susa, Taylor R., Fang, Lin, Moore, Marguerite T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: anxiety; attentional bias; collegiate athletes; concussion; mTBI; threat bias
• ISSN: 0269-9052; 1362-301X
• DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2020.1723698

Primary Objective: Symptoms following concussion commonly include deficits in attentional processing and elevated anxiety. Prioritized allocation of attentional resources to threat-related information is referred to as attentional bias to threat, which is a cardinal symptom - and in some cases a causal factor in the development - of anxiety. Here, we aimed to assess two possibilities regarding the relationship between attentional bias and anxiety in the post-concussive phase of sport-related concussion: (1) attentional bias mediates the relationship between concussion and anxiety or (2) attentional bias and concussion are uniquely associated with anxiety. Research Design: A cross-sectional between-groups design was used to assess differences in anxiety and attentional bias to threat between collegiate athletes with a recent sport-related concussion and a matched control group. Methods and Procedures: Forty-two collegiate athletes, 21 with a sport-related concussion and 21 matched controls, completed the dot-probe task of attentional bias and an anxiety questionnaire. Main Outcomes and Results: Anxiety, but not attentional bias, is elevated in concussion. Additionally, concussion and attentional bias to threat appear to be uniquely associated with anxiety symptoms. Conclusions: Unique treatment/rehabilitation strategies should be considered for individuals with elevated anxiety following concussion.