Military medicine
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The purpose of the study was to determine whether performing ultrasound-guided, bilateral stellate ganglion blocks (SGBs; performed on subsequent days) improved traumatic brain injury (TBI) symptoms. ⋯ The use of bilateral, 2-level SGBs may be indicated in treating patients with PTSD symptoms with concomitant diagnoses of mild-to-moderate TBI.
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One in four U.S. service members endorses food insecurity. The Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is an invaluable, underutilized resource that can increase access to nutritious food for families with children under 5 years of age. Our research sought to evaluate military family perceptions and engagement with the WIC program. ⋯ Our findings suggest that unique circumstances related to military family life create a profound need for programs addressing food support, such as WIC. Interventions to improve WIC enrollment among military families need to be rooted in broad outreach efforts, not targeted at specific ranks, branches, or ages. Specific recommendations include increasing information dissemination, universally screening military families for WIC, decreasing logistical burdens, and involving military leadership.
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This study aimed to examine the relationships between dissociative and somatic symptoms and how they might contribute to PTSD severity among ex-soldiers who sought help from the IDF Combat Stress Reaction Unit (CSRU). ⋯ While there is direct reference to dissociation in the clinical assessment by PCL or CAPS, there is no such reference to somatization. Highly functioning combatants sometimes express their distress somatically. Our findings suggest regarding severe somatic symptoms as diagnostic criteria for PTSD.
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Despite the importance of linguistic analysis, no systematic research has been explored in the form of linguistic analysis on personal statements for military orthopedic surgery residency programs. This study was conducted to analyze U.S. Navy (USN) orthopedic surgery applicants' personal statements using an automated textual analysis program to assess personal statements for linguistic styles. ⋯ As the USMLE Step 1 exam transitions from a scoring system to Pass/Fail grading, programs will look at other characteristics to determine who would likely succeed in residency. From a linguistic analysis standpoint, matched applicants' personal statements demonstrated higher analytical thinking, clout, affiliation, power, and risk focus than unmatched applicants. Unmatched applicants demonstrated higher authenticity than matched applicants.
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Approximately 9 million veterans receive health care at the Veterans Health Administration, many of whom have psychiatric illnesses. The military continues to have higher rates of psychiatric illness compared to the civilian population. Having a diagnosis such as posttraumatic stress disorder or depression may create challenges in using health care services, such as surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate eye surgery cancellation, risk factors for cancellation, and areas for intervention within the VA. ⋯ There was a significant amount of eye surgery cancellations in veterans with variation by subspecialty and comorbid conditions. Having a psychiatric illness was correlated with increased rates of surgery cancellation amongst veterans. Areas to improve surgical utilization include risk stratification and increased support of vulnerable patients before surgery.