But why do the rates of reported traumatic brain injury increase after the return home?
Symptom overlap complicates the assessment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Researchers suggest that PTSD, more so than mild TBI (mTBI), may account for neuropsychiatric symptoms in returning soldiers (JW Psychiatry Jan 30 2008). The current investigators longitudinally assessed symptoms through questionnaires that included items on combat exposure and current psychiatric symptoms.
The Time 1 evaluation involved 2677 National Guard soldiers 1 month before they returned home; 9.2% reported concussion or mTBI, 7.6% met criteria for probable PTSD, and 9.3% met criteria for probable depression.
One year later (Time 2), 953 soldiers returned in-depth questionnaires. All diagnosis rates increased at Time …
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)
DisclosuresRoyaltiesTextbook of Traumatic Brain Injury, 2nd and 3rd editions
Editorial BoardsUpToDate; Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience
Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNorth American Brain Injury Association (Board Member); National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (Chair of Data Monitoring Safety Board for study of donepezil on cognition after traumatic brain injury)