# Collaborative care model for the treatment of persistent symptoms after concussion among youth

> **NIH NIH R01** · SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · 2020 · $680,226

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 While post-concussive symptoms following sports-related concussion are typically transient and resolve
spontaneously within two weeks of concussive injury, 14% or more of youth who sustain concussion
experience significant morbidity that can persist well beyond the normal disease course. Furthermore, post-
concussive symptoms commonly co-occur with affective symptoms including depression and anxiety which
when present can prolong recovery from primary post-concussive symptoms. Together, persistent physical and
psychological symptoms confer protracted functional impairment and create a significant burden for affected
youth, their family, and school. Currently, there are no evidence-based guidelines to inform treatment of
persistent post-concussive symptoms in youth and adolescents.
 In response to the dearth of evidence-based treatment approaches for youth with persistent post-
concussive symptoms, we developed a novel collaborative care treatment model that simultaneously targets
post-concussive symptoms and co-occurring depression and anxiety. Athletes and their family members
receive patient navigator care management services that bridge post-injury care across acute care, specialist
and primary care health service delivery sectors, in addition to cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. Patients
who remain symptomatic after initial treatment efforts receive stepped-up care that may include
psychopharmacologic consultation. We will conduct a randomized comparative effectiveness trial with 200
youth, ages 11-18, suffering from ≥ 3 post-concussive symptoms at least 1 month after their sports-related
injury. Athletes will be randomized to collaborative care (intervention) or post-sports injury care as usual
(control group) conditions. We will determine the effectiveness of a stepped-collaborative care intervention
model in reducing post-concussive and co-occurring psychological symptoms in youth with persistent post-
concussive symptoms after sports-related concussion; examine the effectiveness of the intervention in
improving function and health-related quality of life amongst youth with persistent symptoms after sports-
related concussion; and explore differences in school performance between groups.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9852607
- **Project number:** 5R01HD090230-04
- **Recipient organization:** SEATTLE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** CAROLYN A MC CARTY
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $680,226
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-02-03 → 2022-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9852607

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9852607, Collaborative care model for the treatment of persistent symptoms after concussion among youth (5R01HD090230-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9852607. Licensed CC0.

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