Challenges associated with post-deployment screening for mild traumatic brain injury in military personnel. Clin Neuropsychol 2009 Nov;23(8):1299-314
Date
11/03/2009Pubmed ID
19882473DOI
10.1080/13854040903153902Scopus ID
2-s2.0-70449119120 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 71 CitationsAbstract
There is ongoing debate regarding the epidemiology of mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) in military personnel. Accurate and timely estimates of the incidence of brain injury and the prevalence of long-term problems associated with brain injuries among active duty service members and veterans are essential for (a) operational planning, and (b) to allocate sufficient resources for rehabilitation and ongoing services and supports. The purpose of this article is to discuss challenges associated with post-deployment screening for MTBI. Multiple screening methods have been used in military, Veterans Affairs, and independent studies, which complicate cross-study comparisons of the resulting epidemiological data. We believe that post-deployment screening is important and necessary--but no screening methodology will be flawless, and false positives and false negatives are inevitable. Additional research is necessary to refine the sequential screening methodology, with the goal of minimizing false negatives during initial post-deployment screening and minimizing false positives during follow-up evaluations.
Author List
Iverson GL, Langlois JA, McCrea MA, Kelly JPAuthor
Michael McCrea PhD Professor in the Neurosurgery department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Blast InjuriesBrain Injuries
Combat Disorders
False Positive Reactions
Humans
Mass Screening
Military Personnel
Prevalence
Self-Assessment
Severity of Illness Index
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States
United States Government Agencies
Warfare
