Perceptions of mild traumatic brain injury in adults: a scoping review

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to synthesise the scholarly literature related to perceptions of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and health outcomes in an adult population. Methods: A scoping review was undertaken. An electronic search of seven databases was conducted. Studies were included if (1) they related to perceptions of mild traumatic brain injury, (2) the population was adults with mild traumatic brain injury, and (3) health outcomes were reported. Studies were also identified through a hand search of reference lists of articles meeting study criteria. Numerical analysis and qualitative content analysis were employed. Results: Twenty-one studies published between 1992 and 2015 were included. Key findings regarding how perceptions of mTBI have been conceptualised, assessed, manipulated, and associated with health outcomes across the literature are reported. Clinical implications of studies are presented and clinical examples provided. Findings are discussed in the context of the broader literature and rehabilitation practice. Conclusions: Perceptions of mild traumatic brain injury, or how persons think about and understand mTBI and recovery, have important implications for rehabilitation intervention. Intervention research integrating perceptions of mild traumatic brain injury, while emerging, is needed. Engagement with the health psychology literature is recommended.