{
  "abstract": "Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of Concussion Essentials (CE), a symptom-targeted, multidisciplinary treatment for persisting post-concussion symptoms (PPCS).Methods This single-site, open-label, assessor-blinded, parallel-group randomised clinical trial recruited 8–18-year-olds within 17 days of concussion from the emergency department of a tertiary paediatric hospital and from community referrals. Participants who endorsed ongoing PPCS on review at 14 (±3) days post-injury were invited to a baseline assessment at 3 weeks post-injury, where symptoms were re-assessed. Symptomatic participants were randomised to CE or usual care (UC). CE participants received individualised, multidisciplinary treatment modules (education, psychological, physiotherapy) for up to 8 weeks, while UC participants received weekly monitoring. Primary outcome was full recovery at intervention completion, defined as <1 symptom of increased severity compared with pre-injury on the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory, parent version (PCSI-P).Results Participants were recruited between August 2019 and July 2024. Outcomes were analysed for 158 participants (CE=78; UC=80, mean age 13±2.5 years, 57.6% male). Pre-treatment PCSI-P total mean scores were: CE 36.7 (95% CI 31.0 to 42.4) and UC 33.5 (95% CI 28.4 to 38.7). Proportions with full resolution were CE 62.5% and UC 37.0% (adjusted risk difference=25.5%, 95% CI –10.0 to 41.0%). Post-treatment mean scores were CE 8.5 (5.9–11.2), UC 21.8 (95% CI 15.6 to 27.9) (p<0.0001). Seven adverse events, unrelated to trial factors, were recorded.Conclusion Individualised, multidisciplinary treatment is associated with accelerated recovery in young people with PPCS. Implementation of such approaches should be considered in routine clinical care of concussion.Trial registration number Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (number: ACTRN12617000418370).",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Vicki Anderson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "Neurological Rehabilitation Group, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Katie Davies"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Vanessa C Rausa"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Nicholas Anderson"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Karen M Barlow"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Katherine Bray"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "Neurological Rehabilitation Group, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Bianca Charles"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "Department of Neurosurgery, Austin and Cabrini Hospitals, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Gavin A Davis"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Kevin Dunne"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Fabian Fabiano"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Stephen Hearps"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Vera Ignjatovic"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "School of Psychology, Speech and Hearing, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand"
      ],
      "name": "Audrey McKinlay"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics Unit, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Francesca Orsini"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "Phoenix Australia, Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Georgia Parkin"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Jesse Shapiro"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Michael Takagi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical Sciences, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "Emergency Department, The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia",
        "Department of Critical Care, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"
      ],
      "name": "Franz E Babl"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Multimodal symptom-targeted treatment for young people with persisting post-concussion symptoms: a randomised clinical trial",
  "uid": "5a232645-d573-5e58-b887-6fa645304d68"
}