Special issues with mild TBI in veterans and active duty service members

Abstract

Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) or concussion is common in military deployment and combat contexts. As a result, identifying and treating mild TBI has been a high priority within both the Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) since the onset of Operations Enduring Freedom (OEF), Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and more recently New Dawn (OND). Deployment-related personality and behavior changes are common, and are frequently accompanied by a variety of nonspecific symptoms that include sleep problems, irritability, headaches, other bodily aches and pains, concentration difficulties, and memory problems. Common diag- nos tic comorbidities include adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depressive disorders, all of which create TBI diagnostic and treatment challenges. These challenges and how to address them are the focus of this chapter.