Postconcussive Symptom Reporting Among US Combat Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury From Operation Iraqi Freedom
Abstract
Objective: To examine the association between postconcussive symptoms and mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) among combat veterans while adjusting for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Patients: Military personnel with provider-diagnosed MTBI (n = 334) or non-head injury (n = 658) were identified from the Expeditionary Medical Encounter Database. Main Outcome Measures: Post-Deployment Health Assessments and Reassessments were used to examine postconcussive symptoms and self-rated health. Results: Personnel with MTBI were more likely to report headache (odds ratio [OR] = 3.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.19?5.17), back pain (OR = 1.79; 95% CI, 1.23?2.60), memory problems (OR = 1.86; 95% CI, 1.20?2.88), tinnitus (OR = 1.63; 95% CI, 1.10?2.41), and dizziness (OR = 2.13; 95% CI, 1.06?4.29) compared with those with non-head injuries. Among those with MTBI, self-reported decline in health was associated with memory problems (OR = 5.07; 95% CI, 2.56?10.02) and dizziness (OR = 10.60; 95% CI, 3.48?32.27). Conclusions: MTBI is associated with reports of negative health consequences among combat veterans even when accounting for co-occurring psychological morbidity. The identification of postconcussive symptoms related to declines in a service member?s self-rated health may be important in targeting and prioritizing clinical interventions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA562842
Entities
People
- Amber L. Dougherty
- Andrew J. MacGregor
- Janet J. Tang
- Michael R. Galarneau
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center