Jun. 8, 2012 - Brain injuries so subtle that they don't produce a loss of consciousness and can only be detected by an ultra-sensitive imaging test can predispose soldiers in combat to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to a new study from the University of Rochester Medical Center.
The study — funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and published in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation — involved 52 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans who served in combat areas between 2001 and 2008.
Approximately four years after their last tour of duty, researchers asked each veteran about PTSD symptoms, blast exposures and mild concussions in addition to measuring combat stress by asking about the intensity of deployment duties (such as dealing with human remains), vehicle accidents and combat experiences such as being ambushed or knowing someone who was seriously injured or killed.
Results showed that 30 of the 52 veterans suffered at least one mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) with seven reporting more than one, and that 60 percent of the veterans were exposed to one or more explosive blasts. read more>>>
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