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The findings build on a growing number of clues illuminating blast-related brain injury. By studying Marines being trained to set controlled explosions, as well as pigs exposed to explosions, Geoffrey Ling, a neurologist and scientist at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and colleagues found signs of brain inflammation in the blood, even when no other signs of injury were present.
"We are starting to understand the mechanisms of the blast, and that's leading us to ask different questions," says Michael Jaffee, national director of the Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. For example, scientists now want to better clarify the role of inflammation in this type of injury. DTI might also prove useful for diagnosing blast-related concussions and assessing recovery, he says. Because symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury can resemble posttraumatic stress disorder, an anxiety disorder, it can be difficult to distinguish the two.
While DTI is promising as a new diagnostic technology, Moore emphasizes that additional alternatives are still sorely in need. About 80 percent of the brain injury patients eligible for the study at Walter Reed Army Hospital had to be excluded because of metal shrapnel in their bodies. (MRI machines generate a strong magnetic field, making it dangerous for people with metal implants or shrapnel.)
Two studies mimic the effects of traumatic brain injury in cells, helping to explain how explosions harm soldiers' brains.
Researchers hope the use of multiple sensors will result in a more objective way of diagnosing this anxiety disorder.
The brains of soldiers who have been exposed to blasts show tissue damage up to a year later.
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arnetwork
85 Comments
dramatic increase in p.s.d.
Very interesting article. This may account for what has been reported as a dramatic increase in posttraumatic stress disorder in recent combat situations.
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rhansing
74 Comments
TBI and PTSD
There is an active discussion of the interplay between TBI and PTSD. Both occur together, and there is strong suggestion that TBI affects PTSD.
Also, another reason for the increased PTSD is that there are no safe areas in Iraq. The stress is 24/7, almost to the point of being unbearable.
This is unlike Vietnam where there were relatively safe areas such as Danang and Tan Son Nhut air base. And even less in WWII where most of the soldiers were safely behind the lines. something like 8 out of 9 soldiers.
In additions, soldiers are virtually in prison in their compounds... there is not chance to get out and walk around, just to enjoy a sunrise, etc.
Lastly, I feel that the rate of PSTD closely approaches 80%. Of course I have a looser definiton of PTSD. Just think about it. It you are under stress 24/7, and often it is your second and third tour of duty, that too weighs in.
And lastly, the reentering into society is diffuclt since one is leaving a black and white enviroment into an enviroment of a lot of grey.
Reintroduction back into society need to be a slow process, with councilling and group sessions is much less time than needed.
It's about one month now, but I feel three month is much more appropiate. In Vietnam, it was bang, one minutes you were humping the jungles, and than one day later, they drop you off the plane in San Francisco... without any post duty followup.
We owe a lot to our brave soldiers. They raised their hand and took an oath to defend our country with their life. Many will live with these scars for the rest of their lives.
Sadly, we mourn the fallen, the physically wounded, but forget about the mentally wounded.
Every soldier has a breaking point, some more than others. So a tramatic (both physical and mental) episode may seem to some not a big issue, but is a big issue to others.
Hopefully this comment will help in a better understanding of the sacrarices our soldiers go through.
WE OWE Them a lot.
ron hansing md
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cmcdaniel171
1 Comment
Re: TBI and PTSD
Great response and article.I have been a TBI rehab nurse for 15 years and do some teaching at the hospital, trying to convey the experience of the brain injured and their needs for effective support and maximizing the possible neuroplasticity that can occur with proper support and adequate care. We need the most resources in the first three months as was mentioned and usually the most extensive recovery can be implemented and the family or support persons can be engaged and take over with information and demonstration and participation throughout...but brain injury units tend to be treated as the step child and resources and staffing are usually on a lower rung of consideration and a discounted or lower priority for staffing resources...Thank you for speaking up for these issues...of PTSD and TBI secondary blast injuries... every brain injury is unique but there are supportive interventions that need to be learned and creatively applied to each human being that suffers these injuries. Thanks again for your wise words.
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