Postdeployment Symptom Changes and Traumatic Brain Injury and/or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Men.

摘要

In Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, blast-related injuries associated with combat are frequent and result in traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) that may be difficult to distinguish from psychological problems. Using data from the Post-Deployment Health Assessment and Reassessment, 12,046 U.S. Navy sailors and Marines with combat-related information from 2008-2009 were identified. A series of symptoms used to identify blast-related TBI and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) immediately after deployment were compared with the symptoms present several months later. Factor analysis identified four symptom clusters: mental health, musculoskeletal, systemic (headaches, feeling light-headed, dimming of vision), and auditory (ringing in ears). After approximately 6 months, those who screened positive for PTSD and TBI formed a unique group with increased symptom reporting in most categories except for musculoskeletal. Our study supports others that have found subjects with blast-related injuries may experience the development or worsening of symptoms during the months following deployment. Providers should consider the possibility of comorbidity and be prepared to treat both conditions.