Mental Disorder Development Favored by Untreated Concussions

According to the conclusions of a new study by doctors at the Greenwich Hospital, in Connecticut, it would appear that teens who receive concussions after they participate in certain sports, but do not seek treatment for their condition, have a higher chance of developing mental disorders.

This is especially true for sports including cheerleading, gymnastics, horseback riding, and football, which entail a high risk of injury. Concussions are generally defined as a form of traumatic brain injury.

They are “similar to a stroke in that both affect normal brain function and may have similar symptoms,” says Frederick Nahm, MD, PhD, a neurologist and the head of the GH Stroke Center.

Teens who do not seek treatments upon receiving concussions were found to be more likely to develop anxiety disorders, phobias, memory problems, inattention, depression and apathy, among others, PsychCentral reports.