Cognitive Sequelae of Blast-Induced Traumatic Brain Injury: Recovery and Rehabilitation

Abstract

Blast-related traumatic brain injury (bTBI) poses a significant concern for military personnel engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF). Given the highly stressful context in which such injury occurs, psychiatric comorbidities are common. This paper provides an overview of mild bTBI and discusses the cognitive sequelae and course of recovery typical of mild TBI (mTBI). Complicating factors that arise in the context of co-morbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are considered with regard to diagnosis and treatment. Relatively few studies have evaluated the efficacy of cognitive rehabilitation in civilian mTBI, but we discuss cognitive training approaches that hold promise for addressing mild impairments in executive function and memory, akin to those seen in OEF/OIF veterans with bTBI and PTSD. Further research is needed to address the patient and environmental characteristics associated with optimal treatment outcome.

Cognition and return to work after mild/moderate traumatic brain injury: A systematic review

“…This is consistent with some previous findings, which favored multidisciplinary practices in RTW interventions [11,64,65]. Watanabe [66] found that greater gains in cognitive functions can be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation.…”

Physical comorbidities of post‐traumatic stress disorder in Australian Vietnam War veterans

“…Multiple deployments and increased use of improvised explosive devices (IED) in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in higher rates of exposures to blasts, and have possibly contributed to elevated rates of mTBI and stress-related health problems such as PTSD [26,136]. Substantially different mTBI prevalence rates have been reported for the US, UK, and Canada [26,152,193].…”

“…Substantially different mTBI prevalence rates have been reported for the US, UK, and Canada [26,152,193]. This may be due to differing research methodology, the different types of risks/exposures faced by the sample, or differing lengths of deployment [153].…”

Significant Improvements in Cognitive Performance Post-Transcranial, Red/Near-Infrared Light-Emitting Diode Treatments in Chronic, Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: Open-Protocol Study

“…[12][13][14] Closedhead blast injury is the signature injury, 12 and the cognitive sequelae, recovery, and rehabilitation are of increasing concern. 15 It is estimated that there are as many as 320,000 veterans who have returned with TBI, most with mTBI. 16,17 Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is also a major concern with OEF/OIF soldiers who have experienced mTBI.…”