Biopsychosocial characteristics and neurocognitive test performance in National Football League players: an initial assessment

Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2008 Sep;23(5):563-77. doi: 10.1016/j.acn.2008.05.008. Epub 2008 Jul 9.

Abstract

The use of neurocognitive testing in the assessment of professional athletes sustaining sports-related concussions has become widespread over the past decade. Baseline neurocognitive testing is now a requirement for athletes in the National Football League (NFL). We present preliminary normative data on a computer based neurocognitive test (Immediate Post Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing; ImPACT) for 159 NFL athletes. Also included are summary data on basic biopsychosocial characteristics, including medical, psychiatric, chemical dependency, concussion, learning disability/attention deficit disorder, and symptom variables, and the relevance of each to baseline neurocognitive test scores.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Brain Concussion
  • Brain Injuries / physiopathology
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Cognition Disorders / physiopathology
  • Football / injuries
  • Football / physiology
  • Football / psychology*
  • Headache
  • Humans
  • Learning Disabilities / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests*
  • Psychology
  • Reference Standards
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Social Behavior*
  • Societies
  • Young Adult