Beyond Mild, Moderate, and Severe: Evaluating the Clinical, Biomarkers, Imaging, and Modifiers [CBI-M] Classification System for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Individuals who served in the military are at increased risk for sustaining traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and such injuries are known to negatively impact psychosocial functioning and health- related outcomes (e.g., increased rates of suicide among those with TBI). Even though questions persist in terms of the utility of current TBI criteria/classification strategies being used to prognosticate or predicate short- or long-term care pathways, such strategies have been widely implemented. A notable number of individuals with milder TBI’s experience sequelae long post-injury. Moreover, such patients often receive limited information regarding best “next steps” if symptoms do persist past the acute period. This is in part related to limitations associated with the current systems of classification, which group together all with a “mild” disruption of brain functioning at the time of injury. Such groupings do not consider the known impact of other factors (e.g., age, education, history of previous TBI, history of psychiatric illness) on short- and long-term outcomes. The project aims to improve understanding regarding three diagnostic strategies that are currently being used, or have been proposed to be used, to classify TBI severity among those with milder injuries. In addition, efforts will also be focused on exploring relationships between these classification systems and: self-reported TBI-related and mental health outcomes (e.g., post concussive symptoms, post traumatic symptoms); objective functional outcomes (e.g., employment, death by suicide); and objective cognitive outcomes (e.g., executive functioning). A focus across aims is the exploration of how social determinants of health impact such longitudinal outcomes.
VA Brain Health Coordinating Center
The Brain Health Coordinating Center is an exciting new initiative with the primary goal of serving as an enterprise-wide resource for improving brain health for Veterans across the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This will be accomplished through leveraging existing tools (e.g., eMetrics, VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines) to facilitate better Veteran brain health.
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs
Transforming Health Care through Innovative and Impactful Research ************************* The CDMRP originated in 1992 via a Congressional appropriation to foster novel approaches to biomedical research in response to the expressed needs of its stakeholders-the American public, the military, and Congress.
National Center for PTSD
We are the world's leading research and educational center of excellence on PTSD and traumatic stress. PTSD is a mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. It's normal to have upsetting memories, feel on edge, or have trouble sleeping after this type of event. If symptoms last more than a few months, it may be PTSD. The good news is that there are effective treatments.
Veterans Crisis Line
The Veterans Crisis Line is a free, confidential resource that’s available to anyone, even if you’re not registered with VA or enrolled in VA health care. The caring, qualified responders at the Veterans Crisis Line are specially trained and experienced in helping Veterans of all ages and circumstances.