Exploring the association between recent concussion, subconcussive impacts and depressive symptoms in male Australian Football players

Authors

Sarah Ann Harris, The University of Notre Dame AustraliaFollow
Paola Chivers, The University of Notre Dame AustraliaFollow
Fleur McIntyre, The University of Notre Dame AustraliaFollow
Ben Piggott, The University of Notre Dame AustraliaFollow
Max Bulsara, The University of Notre Dame AustraliaFollow
Fiona Farringdon, The University of Notre Dame AustraliaFollow

Publication Details

Harris, S. A., Chivers, P., McIntyre, F., Piggott, B., Bulsara, M., & Farringdon, F. (2020). Exploring the association between recent concussion, subconcussive impacts and depressive symptoms in male Australian Football players. BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine, 6 (1).

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the association between depressive symptoms and recent head-related trauma (diagnosed concussion, subconcussive impacts) in semiprofessional male Australian Football (AF) players.

Methods: Sixty-nine semiprofessional male players from a West Australian Football League (WAFL) club participated in the study (M_age=21.81, SD=2.91 years). Depressive symptoms were measured using the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Injuries and potential confounding variables (eg, pre-existing mental health condition; alcohol or drug hangovers; experiencing a stressful event) were self-reported anonymously using the WAFL Injury Report Survey. Both tools were administered every 2-weeks over the first 22-weeks of the WAFL season. Controlling for potential confounding variables and other injuries, a repeated measures generalised estimating equations model assessed the risk of clinically relevant depressive symptoms occurring, when diagnosed concussion or subconcussive impacts were experienced.

Results: A total of 10 concussions and 183 subconcussive impacts were reported. Players who experienced a concussion were almost nine times more likely to experience clinically relevant depressive symptoms (OR 8.88, 95% CI 2.65 to 29.77, p<0.001).

Conclusion: These findings indicate that semiprofessional AF athletes may be at risk of experiencing depressive symptoms after concussion. Severity (concussion vs subconcussive impacts) and dose (number of impacts) appear to have an important relationship with depressive symptom outcomes in this cohort and should be considered for further research and management of player welfare.

Keywords

Australian Rules Football, head-related trauma, association with depressive symptoms

Link to Publisher Version (URL)

10.1136/bmjsem-2019-000655