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Perception of illness: Nonspecificity of Postconcussion Syndrome symptom expectation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2002

JOHN GUNSTAD  and
JULIE A. SUHR
JOHN GUNSTAD
Affiliation:
Ohio University Department of Psychology, Athens, Ohio
JULIE A. SUHR
Affiliation:
Ohio University Department of Psychology, Athens, Ohio
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Abstract

A growing number of studies show postconcussion syndrome (PCS) symptom report is influenced by factors other than head injury, suggesting symptoms typically associated with PCS may not be specific to head injury. Given the role that symptom expectation has been hypothesized to play in PCS symptom etiology, a comparison of symptoms expected for various disorders seems overdue. The present study asked 82 undergraduates to report the symptoms they currently experience, and then to report the symptoms they would expect to experience if they had had suffered either a head injury, an orthopedic injury, posttraumatic stress, or depression. No current differences in overall symptoms or in symptom subscales emerged. Results showed individuals portraying head injury, posttraumatic stress, and depression expected an increase in total symptoms, though individuals portraying an orthopedic injury did not expect such an increase. Results also showed simulators of head injury, posttraumatic stress, and depression expected equivalent rates of overall symptoms, memory/cognitive complaints, somatic concerns, and distracter symptoms, though head-injured individuals reported fewer affective symptoms than those portraying psychological disorders. In all, these findings suggest that individuals have a relative lack of specificity in symptom expectation for various disorders, with the implication that symptom checklists for “PCS” may not be useful for diagnosis. (JINS, 2002, 8, 37–47.)

Keywords

Postconcussion syndromeSymptom expectationNocebo effect
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , January 2002 , pp. 37 - 47
Copyright
© 2002 The International Neuropsychological Society

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