The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation
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Individuals who develop maladaptive coping styles after traumatic brain injury (TBI) usually experience difficulty expressing their emotional state, increasing the risk of psychological distress. Difficulties expressing emotion and identifying feelings are features of alexithymia, which is prevalent following TBI. ⋯ Early screening for alexithymia following TBI might identify those most at risk of developing maladaptive coping mechanisms. This could assist in developing early rehabilitation interventions to reduce vulnerability to later psychological distress.
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Jan 2013
Identification of transient altered consciousness induced by military-related blast exposure and its relation to postconcussion symptoms.
The ongoing controversy whether mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause chronic sequel is partly due to diagnostic limitations. Diagnosing mild TBI is particularly challenging when assessment is not immediate, and when informed, first responder documentation or witness corroboration is absent. In this common scenario, the diagnosis is made entirely on self-report of an initial period of alteration of consciousness (AOC) associated with a plausible injury mechanism. Yet, there is scant published empirical guidance on methods for accurately detecting historical AOC. ⋯ The positive association between subjects' questionnaire-based AOC item responses and current symptom complex measures suggests that mild TBI has a role in the development of chronic neuropsychiatric symptoms after blast exposure. The lack of symptom- complex discrimination, and the inconsistencies found in subjects' item responses suggest that a structured interview may improve postacute diagnostic specificity for mild TBI.
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Jan 2013
The relation between posttraumatic stress disorder and mild traumatic brain injury acquired during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
To understand the relations of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), blast exposure, and brain white matter structure to severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). ⋯ PTSD severity is related to both the severity of combat stress and underlying structural brain changes on MRI and DTI but not to a clinical diagnosis of mild TBI. The observed relation between blast exposure and abnormal DTI suggests that subclinical TBI may play a role in the genesis of PTSD in a combat environment.
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Jan 2013
Loss of consciousness, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and suicide risk among deployed military personnel with mild traumatic brain injury.
To identify clinical variables associated with suicidality in military personnel with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) while deployed to Iraq. ⋯ Assessment after TBI in a combat zone may assist providers in identifying those at risk for suicidality and making treatment recommendations for service members with mTBI.
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · Jan 2013
Self-reported mild TBI and postconcussive symptoms in a peacetime active duty military population: effect of multiple TBI history versus single mild TBI.
To investigate the potential cumulative impact of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) on postconcussive symptoms. ⋯ Past experience of MTBI may be a risk factor for increased symptom difficulty for several months postinjury. Clinicians should ascertain lifetime history of brain injury when evaluating patients for MTBI.