Reintegrating Troops with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) into Their Communities: Understanding the Scope and Timeline of Post-Deployment Driving Problems.

摘要

This study examines the extent to which combat driving behaviors and anxieties are carried-over into driving on American roads post-deployment from service in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) and to compare such behaviors in Service Members (SMs) who have and have not served in these combat operations and who do and do not have traumatic brain injury (TBI). The study has received surveys from 44 Service Members (SMs): no diagnosis (n=6), TBI (n=12), PTSD (n=7), and dual diagnosis (TBI/PTSD) n=19, and from an additional 28 family/friends matched to SMs. Even in this small sample SMs with TBI/PTSD have significantly worse carryover of combat driving behaviors and driving related anxieties onto US roads. SMs with TBI and TBI/PTSD carry significantly more weapons in their personal vehicles and the two most commonly carried are also the most lethal gun and knife. Family and friends appear to be aware that driving behavior and driving related anxieties are an issue, but tend to underestimate their severity.