Traumatic Brain Injuries: Unreported and Untreated in an Army Population.

INTRODUCTION: In 2008, it was reported that 19.5% of service members previously deployed experienced a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Fifty-seven percent of those did not seek medical care. It was suggested that concerns with seeking care involved confidentiality and career issues. Objective: This study addressed mTBI history, medical treatment history, and stigmas associated with mTBI/concussion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire was developed. Data collection occurred throughout March 2018 in conjunction with Brain Injury Awareness Month activities. RESULTS: All 5,174 volunteers were Army; 86% male; 87% were between 18 and 34 years old; 89% had <14 years in the military; 35% had a combat deployment; and 10% reported having one or more mTBIs in their military careers. Of the Soldiers who reported a concussion, 52% sought medical care. Of those not seeking care, 64% reported they did not think the injury required care, followed by 18% fearing negative impact on their career. Twenty-eight percent who experienced an mTBI versus 11% who have not reported that there is a stigma associated with an mTBI. CONCLUSIONS: Soldiers sometimes failed to report their suspected concussions and did not seek medical care. Educational efforts may increase reporting of and medical screening for potentially concussive events. Future research to determine the ramifications of unreported and untreated mTBIs/concussions is recommended.

Traumatic Brain Injury and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Comorbid Consequences of War.

Scientific literature is reviewed supporting a "consequence of war syndrome (CWS)" in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn soldiers. CWS constituents include chronic pain and insomnia, other physical complaints, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and neuropsychological deficits. The foundation of CWS lies with the chronic stressors inherent to deployment and the cascade of biological events mediated and maintained by hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis dysregulation. Such dysregulation is modified by the individual's specific experiences at war, difficulty reintegrating to post-deployment life, and the onset or exacerbation of the chronic and comorbid physical, emotional, and cognitive disorders. The circuit network between the prefrontal cortex (PFC), amygdala, and hippocampus is particularly sensitive to the consequences of war. The review's specific conclusions are as follows: HPA axis dysregulation contributes to the chronic insomnia and hyperarousal seen in soldiers. There is considerable symptom overlap between PTSD and blast-related head injury, and it is difficult to determine the relative contributions of the two disorders to abnormal imaging studies. In some cases, traumatic brain injury (TBI) may directly precipitate PTSD symptoms. While not intuitive, the relationship between TBI and postconcussion syndrome appears indirect and mediated through PTSD. Blast-related or conventional head injury may have little long-term impact on neuropsychological functioning; contrarily, PTSD particularly accounts for current cognitive deficits. The psychological experience of CWS includes a "war-within" where soldiers continue to battle an internalized enemy. Successful treatment of CWS entails transdisciplinary care that addresses each of the constituent disorders.

An experiential approach to the inpatient anger management group.

Groups that target aggression on the inpatient milieu usually use psycho-educational and cognitive-behavioral techniques. In contrast, this article presents an experiential approach that targets the moment-by-moment experience within the inpatient group. It makes unique use of group-closing relaxation exercises that facilitate cohesion, consolidate the affectively charged material generated during the session, and reorganize patients' emotional/cognitive understanding of themselves and the world around them. These groups also give patients the opportunity to negotiate the affective residue associated with past aggressive acts, and the opportunity to examine the personal meaning and underlying assumptions behind ongoing group interactions. We describe several techniques or modes of intervention. The authors also use case examples to illustrate the theory, technique, and impact the approach can have on its members.