Assessment of Headache and Psychiatric Issues in Concussion

Presented by Anne Mucha and Susan Whitney

12-Month Subscription

Unlimited access to:

  • Thousands of CE Courses
  • Patient Education
  • Home Exercise Program
  • And more
Video Runtime: 66 Minutes, Learning Assessments: 24 Minutes

Headache is the most common complaint after concussion, affecting up to 85% of individuals. Post-traumatic headaches have various etiologies and may be due to medication overuse or cervicogenic, psychiatric, ocular, and migraine influences. Physical and occupational therapists who manage patients after concussion will benefit from understanding how to differentiate the various types of postconcussive headaches and the management that can be applied.

Mood and psychiatric conditions are also known to affect recovery in persons post concussion. Psychiatric issues occur frequently after a concussion, and therapists must manage these concerns in the course of treatment. The most common mood and psychiatric disorders will be discussed, as well as the role of sleep in recovery after a concussion. We will provide you with tools that can be utilized to assess mood, and intervention ideas for persons with mood or psychiatric comorbidities.

Meet your instructors

Anne Mucha

Anne Mucha is the coordinator of vestibular rehabilitation for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program and Centers for Rehab Services. She is a board-certified clinical specialist in neurologic physical therapy with advanced certification in vestibular rehabilitation. With more than 20…

Read full bio

Susan Whitney

Susan L. Whitney received her PhD in motor development/motor learning from the University of Pittsburgh, her professional physical therapy education from Temple University in Philadelphia, and her DPT from MGH Institute of Health Professions. Currently, she is a professor in physical therapy in the School of Health and…

Read full bio

Chapters & learning objectives

Post-traumatic Headache Overview

1. Post-traumatic Headache Overview

Post-traumatic headaches are the most common symptom after a concussion. This chapter discusses some of the common types of post-traumatic headache—including medication-overuse, cervicogenic, cognitive, psychiatric, and ocular—along with ways to identify them.

Post-traumatic Migraine

2. Post-traumatic Migraine

Post-traumatic migraine is the most common cause of post-traumatic headache. Post-traumatic migraine is correlated with higher symptom burden and longer recovery after a concussion and requires different management than other headache types. This chapter reviews migraine in detail, along with ways to identify and treat.

Psychiatric Influences on Concussion

3. Psychiatric Influences on Concussion

Premorbid and postinjury mood and psychiatric issues are common and predict longer recovery after a concussion. This chapter will assist therapists in assessing for common mood-related impairment and discuss considerations for management.