Repetitive Concussions linked to Suicidal Behaviors Among Young Males

Written By : Jacinthlyn Sylvia |Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli Published On 2023-12-25T23:00:08+05:30 | Updated On 26 Dec 2023 11:08 AM IST

In a recent study, the underexplored nexus between repetitive concussions and mental health were the point of focus were the study team found a concerning association between multiple concussions and nonfatal suicidal behaviors among youth. Using data from the National Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, this retrospective cross-sectional survey involved 28,442 secondary school students across the United States.

The research by Jacob Kay investigated the correlation between self-reported concussion frequency and adverse mental health outcomes by looking into the most overlooked aspect of how this relationship might differ between male and female youth. With growing interest surrounding the impact of concussions on mental health, especially in sports, the gender-specific implications remain less explored.

And so, utilizing a comprehensive set of variables, including self-reported concussions, feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and suicidal behaviors, the study revealed a significant finding. Students reporting two or more concussions in the past 12 months were at substantially higher odds of reporting suicidal attempts compared to those with a single concussion (adjusted odds ratio = 2.03; 95% CI = 1.43, 2.88). However, a crucial nuance emerged in the analysis of sex interactions and suggests that this heightened risk was predominantly driven by males. Among females, the strength of associations did not escalate with an increased frequency of concussions.

The implications of this study signal that adolescents with a history of concussions are at an high risk of poor mental health and suicidal behaviors. Also, the link between an increased number of concussions and significantly greater odds of reporting suicidal attempts is particularly noteworthy among males. The study underscores the urgent need for healthcare professionals to closely monitor the mental health of adolescents, regardless of gender with experience of repetitive concussions, especially those occurring in close temporal proximity.

Reference:

Kay, J. J. M., Coffman, C. A., Harrison, A., Tavakoli, A. S., Torres-McGehee, T. M., Broglio, S. P., & Moore, R. D. (2023). Concussion Exposure and suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts among US high school students. Journal of Athletic Training, 58(9), 751–758. https://doi.org/10.4085/1062-6050-0117.22

Journal of Athletic Trainingconcussionssuicidal behavior

Source : Journal of Athletic Training

Jacinthlyn Sylvia

Neuroscience Masters graduate

Jacinthlyn Sylvia, a Neuroscience Master's graduate from Chennai has worked extensively in deciphering the neurobiology of cognition and motor control in aging. She also has spread-out exposure to Neurosurgery from her Bachelor’s. She is currently involved in active Neuro-Oncology research. She is an upcoming neuroscientist with a fiery passion for writing. Her news cover at Medical Dialogues feature recent discoveries and updates from the healthcare and biomedical research fields. She can be reached at editorial@medicaldialogues.in

Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Dr Kamal Kant Kohli-MBBS, DTCD- a chest specialist with more than 30 years of practice and a flair for writing clinical articles, Dr Kamal Kant Kohli joined Medical Dialogues as a Chief Editor of Medical News. Besides writing articles, as an editor, he proofreads and verifies all the medical content published on Medical Dialogues including those coming from journals, studies,medical conferences,guidelines etc. Email: drkohli@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751