BIOMAT Database Logo BIOMAT Database Logo

Evaluation of objective and subjective clinical outcomes in combat veterans with and without mild TBI and PTSD: A four-group design. 2019

Victoria C Merritt, and Sarah M Jurick, and Laura D Crocker, and Samantha N Hoffman, and Amber V Keller, and Nicole DeFord, and Amy J Jak
a Psychology Service , VA San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHS) , San Diego , CA , USA.

Introduction: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly prevalent comorbid conditions in military Veterans. However, lack of appropriate comparison groups has clouded interpretation of the chronic effects of these conditions. The present study evaluated the neuropsychological, psychiatric/neurobehavioral, and functional outcomes associated with mTBI and PTSD in a well-characterized sample of combat-exposed Veterans. Method: Participants included 73 Iraq/Afghanistan Veterans (91.8% male; age: M = 34.00, SD = 6.39) divided into four groups: mTBI-only (n = 23), PTSD-only (n = 14), comorbid mTBI + PTSD (n = 19), and combat-control (CC; n = 17). Participants were administered a neuropsychological assessment and completed questionnaires assessing psychiatric/neurobehavioral symptoms and functional outcomes. Results: Kruskal-Wallis H-tests showed no group differences across measures of neuropsychological functioning; however, there were significant differences across groups on all psychiatric/neurobehavioral variables examined. In general, the comorbid and PTSD-only groups endorsed the most severe symptoms, followed by the mTBI-only and CC groups, respectively. As for functional outcomes, the comorbid and PTSD-only groups had higher rates of service-connection disability and greater perceived decline in work and education-related abilities, relative to the mTBI-only and CC groups, despite similar proportions of Veterans employed or in school in each group. Conclusions: Findings suggest that Veterans with comorbid mTBI + PTSD and PTSD alone are at greatest risk for experiencing long-lasting subjective distress, including negative perceptions of their ability to work or pursue an education, despite being comparable to mTBI-only and CC Veterans on objective measures of functioning. Our results highlight the importance of emphasizing mental health treatment in this population.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D012107 Research Design A plan for collecting and utilizing data so that desired information can be obtained with sufficient precision or so that an hypothesis can be tested properly. Experimental Design,Data Adjustment,Data Reporting,Design, Experimental,Designs, Experimental,Error Sources,Experimental Designs,Matched Groups,Methodology, Research,Problem Formulation,Research Methodology,Research Proposal,Research Strategy,Research Technics,Research Techniques,Scoring Methods,Adjustment, Data,Adjustments, Data,Data Adjustments,Design, Research,Designs, Research,Error Source,Formulation, Problem,Formulations, Problem,Group, Matched,Groups, Matched,Matched Group,Method, Scoring,Methods, Scoring,Problem Formulations,Proposal, Research,Proposals, Research,Reporting, Data,Research Designs,Research Proposals,Research Strategies,Research Technic,Research Technique,Scoring Method,Source, Error,Sources, Error,Strategies, Research,Strategy, Research,Technic, Research,Technics, Research,Technique, Research,Techniques, Research
D001924 Brain Concussion A nonspecific term used to describe transient alterations or loss of consciousness following closed head injuries. The duration of UNCONSCIOUSNESS generally lasts a few seconds, but may persist for several hours. Concussions may be classified as mild, intermediate, and severe. Prolonged periods of unconsciousness (often defined as greater than 6 hours in duration) may be referred to as post-traumatic coma (COMA, POST-HEAD INJURY). (From Rowland, Merritt's Textbook of Neurology, 9th ed, p418) Cerebral Concussion,Commotio Cerebri,Concussion, Intermediate,Concussion, Mild,Concussion, Severe,Mild Traumatic Brain Injury,Brain Concussions,Cerebral Concussions,Concussion, Brain,Concussion, Cerebral,Intermediate Concussion,Intermediate Concussions,Mild Concussion,Mild Concussions,Severe Concussion,Severe Concussions
D003130 Combat Disorders Neurotic reactions to unusual, severe, or overwhelming military stress. Neuroses, War,War Neuroses,Combat Neuroses,Combat Neurosis,Combat Stress Disorders,Shell Shock,War Neurosis,Combat Disorder,Combat Stress Disorder,Disorder, Combat,Disorder, Combat Stress,Disorders, Combat,Disorders, Combat Stress,Neuroses, Combat,Neurosis, Combat,Neurosis, War,Shell Shocks,Shock, Shell,Shocks, Shell,Stress Disorder, Combat,Stress Disorders, Combat
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012649 Self Concept Persons' view of themselves. Self Esteem,Self Perception,Self Confidence,Self-Perception,Concept, Self,Confidence, Self,Esteem, Self,Perception, Self,Perceptions, Self,Self Esteems,Self Perceptions,Self-Perceptions
D012720 Severity of Illness Index Levels within a diagnostic group which are established by various measurement criteria applied to the seriousness of a patient's disorder. Illness Index Severities,Illness Index Severity
D013313 Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic A class of traumatic stress disorders with symptoms that last more than one month. Moral Injury,Neuroses, Post-Traumatic,PTSD,Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders,Acute Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,Chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,Delayed Onset Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,Neuroses, Posttraumatic,Posttraumatic Stress Disorders,Stress Disorder, Post Traumatic,Stress Disorders, Posttraumatic,Acute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,Chronic Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,Delayed Onset Post Traumatic Stress Disorder,Injury, Moral,Moral Injuries,Neuroses, Post Traumatic,Post Traumatic Stress Disorders,Post-Traumatic Neuroses,Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,Posttraumatic Neuroses,Posttraumatic Stress Disorder,Stress Disorder, Post-Traumatic,Stress Disorder, Posttraumatic
D014728 Veterans Former members of the armed services. Veteran

Related Publications

Victoria C Merritt, and Sarah M Jurick, and Laura D Crocker, and Samantha N Hoffman, and Amber V Keller, and Nicole DeFord, and Amy J Jak
Subjective cognitive complaints and objective cognitive functioning in combat veterans: Effects of PTSD and deployment mild TBI.
November 2023, Applied neuropsychology. Adult,
Victoria C Merritt, and Sarah M Jurick, and Laura D Crocker, and Samantha N Hoffman, and Amber V Keller, and Nicole DeFord, and Amy J Jak
Effects of Blast Exposure on Subjective and Objective Sleep Measures in Combat Veterans with and without PTSD.
January 2016, Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine,
Victoria C Merritt, and Sarah M Jurick, and Laura D Crocker, and Samantha N Hoffman, and Amber V Keller, and Nicole DeFord, and Amy J Jak
Subjective versus objective sleep in Vietnam combat veterans hospitalized for PTSD.
January 1996, Journal of traumatic stress,
Victoria C Merritt, and Sarah M Jurick, and Laura D Crocker, and Samantha N Hoffman, and Amber V Keller, and Nicole DeFord, and Amy J Jak
Sleep quality affects cognitive functioning in returning combat veterans beyond combat exposure, PTSD, and mild TBI history.
January 2017, Neuropsychology,
Victoria C Merritt, and Sarah M Jurick, and Laura D Crocker, and Samantha N Hoffman, and Amber V Keller, and Nicole DeFord, and Amy J Jak
Risk-taking behaviors and impulsivity among veterans with and without PTSD and mild TBI.
April 2014, Military medicine,
Victoria C Merritt, and Sarah M Jurick, and Laura D Crocker, and Samantha N Hoffman, and Amber V Keller, and Nicole DeFord, and Amy J Jak
Driving-Related Coping Thoughts in Post-9/11 Combat Veterans With and Without Comorbid PTSD and TBI.
December 2017, Federal practitioner : for the health care professionals of the VA, DoD, and PHS,
Victoria C Merritt, and Sarah M Jurick, and Laura D Crocker, and Samantha N Hoffman, and Amber V Keller, and Nicole DeFord, and Amy J Jak
Stress inoculation training outcomes among veterans with PTSD and TBI.
November 2019, Psychological trauma : theory, research, practice and policy,
Victoria C Merritt, and Sarah M Jurick, and Laura D Crocker, and Samantha N Hoffman, and Amber V Keller, and Nicole DeFord, and Amy J Jak
Combat veterans with comorbid PTSD and mild TBI exhibit a greater inhibitory processing ERP from the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex.
October 2014, Psychiatry research,
Victoria C Merritt, and Sarah M Jurick, and Laura D Crocker, and Samantha N Hoffman, and Amber V Keller, and Nicole DeFord, and Amy J Jak
Neuropsychological assessment of Vietnam combat veterans with and without PTSD.
June 1997, Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences,
Victoria C Merritt, and Sarah M Jurick, and Laura D Crocker, and Samantha N Hoffman, and Amber V Keller, and Nicole DeFord, and Amy J Jak
A case-control study examining whether neurological deficits and PTSD in combat veterans are related to episodes of mild TBI.
January 2012, BMJ open,
Copied contents to your clipboard!