• Karen A Schwab, Brian Ivins, Gayle Cramer, Wayne Johnson, Melissa Sluss-Tiller, Kevin Kiley, Warren Lux, and Deborah Warden.
• Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20012, USA.
• J Head Trauma Rehabil. 2007 Nov 1; 22 (6): 377-89.

ObjectivePreliminary assessment of a new instrument, the Brief Traumatic Brain Injury Screen (BTBIS).DesignCross-sectional study of 596 soldiers returning from Iraq and/or Afghanistan, comparing the consistency of their reports of traumatic brain injury (TBI) across instruments with similar TBI questions, and in a brief follow-up interview.SettingMilitary base.MeasuresSelf-reported probable TBI on the BTBIS and on 2 longer questionnaires, and a brief follow-up interview.ResultsSelf-reports of probable TBI were higher on the BTBIS, than on the longer instruments. Participants who screened positive on the BTBIS generally provided consistent information about probable TBI in the follow-up interview.ConclusionsIn this initial study, the BTBIS demonstrated promise as part of a triage process in mass casualty situations, permitting individuals with probable TBI to self-report injury and continued symptoms. Further study, including full validation and reliability assessment, is warranted and required before these screening tools can be fully evaluated.

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