Adjusting to Persistent Post-concussive Symptoms Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and Subsequent Psycho-educational Intervention: a Qualitative Analysis in Military Personnel

Objective: Best practice guidelines outline ways in which mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS) should be managed. In line with the existing evidence base, DMRC Headley Court established a treatment programme for UK servicemen and women with mTBI. This study explored the experiences of a sample of UK military personnel living with PPCS, who also received psycho-educational intervention (Phase 2) at this unit.

Setting: DMRC Headley Court, Southeast England.

Participants: Sixteen service personnel who had completed the intervention within 24 months prior to interview.

Design: Semi-structured qualitative interview study, with purposive sampling and thematic analysis.

Results: Participants described their mTBI in terms of: (1) onset; (2) subsequent symptom experience; (3) recovery; and (4) acceptance. All participants reported a significant degree of confusion and chaos in the aftermath of their traumatic event. These themes highlighted how, following enrolment onto the Phase 2 intervention at DMRC Headley Court, participants reported being (largely) able to manage PPCS. Further, many reported acceptance of their condition and described how they had managed to re-establish a sense of order.

Conclusions: Following a flexible and tailored intervention for PPCS, patients report feeling empowered and describe having a renewed sense of stability.