• Tracey Covassin, Robert J Elbin, Elizabeth Larson, and Anthony P Kontos.
• Department of Kinesiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA. covassin@msu.edu
• Clin J Sport Med. 2012 Mar 1; 22 (2): 98-104.

ObjectiveTo examine depression and baseline neurocognitive function and concussion symptoms in male and female high school and college athletes.DesignCross sectional.SettingAthletes completed testing at a designated computer laboratory at high schools and colleges.ParticipantsParticipants included 1616 collegiate (n = 837) and high school (n = 779) athletes from 3 states participating in a variety of competitive sports.InterventionsParticipants completed the baseline Immediate Postconcussion Assessment and Cognitive Test (ImPACT), symptom inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II).Main Outcome MeasuresBetween-group comparisons for depression groups on ImPACT composite scores (verbal and visual memory, reaction time, motor processing speed), total symptoms, and symptom cluster (sleep, cognitive, emotional, somatic/migraine) scores. Between-group comparisons for age and sex on BDI-II, ImPACT, total symptoms, and symptom cluster scores.ResultsThe severe depression group scored worse on visual memory and reported more total, somatic/migraine, cognitive, emotional, and sleep symptoms than less depressed groups. High school athletes reported more somatic/migraine symptoms than collegiate athletes, whereas collegiate athletes reported more emotional and sleep symptoms than high school athletes. Women had higher verbal memory and reported more cognitive, emotional, and sleep symptom clusters compared with men. Women outperformed men on verbal memory, whereas collegiate athletes outperformed high school athletes on processing speed.ConclusionsAthletes with severe depression scored lower on visual memory than those with minimal depression. Athletes with severe depression report more concussion symptoms than athletes with minimal and moderate depression scores. Symptoms of depression should be included in baseline assessments to help disentangle depression from concussion symptoms.

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