Tool to predict anxiety and depression after a mild concussion in teens

RFA-CE-23-008, Development and Validation of a Clinical Tool to Predict Mental Health Sequelae After Mild TBI in Adolescents

['FUNDING_U01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · NIH-11294137

They are creating a tool to help spot teens at risk for new or worsening anxiety or depression after a mild concussion so they can get help sooner.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_U01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS (nih funded)
Locations1 site (DAVIS, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11294137 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If I join, researchers will enroll teens who come to participating emergency departments after a mild concussion and follow us for three months. They will ask us to fill out standard anxiety and depression questionnaires at 1–2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months after the visit. The team will develop the prediction tool using about 1,512 teens from four hospitals and then test it in about 1,080 teens at two other hospitals. The study will also check whether teens with new mental health needs are getting care and whether there are differences by race, ethnicity, or income.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents who present to a participating emergency department with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)/concussion.

Not a fit: Teens with moderate to severe TBI, adults, or people whose injuries were not seen at a participating ED are unlikely to be represented or directly helped by this tool.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could help clinicians identify teens at risk for post-concussion anxiety or depression so they can offer earlier support or referrals.

How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show many teens develop post-concussion mental health problems, but there are currently no widely validated clinical prediction tools, so this approach is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

DAVIS, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.