Citation

Swan AA, Amuan ME, Morissette SB, Finley EP, Eapen BC, Jaramillo CA, Pugh MJ. Brain Inj. 2018; 32(13-14): 1637-1650.

Affiliation

Division of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine , University of Utah School of Medicine , Salt Lake City , UT , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02699052.2018.1518539

PMID

30273517

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To examine long-term outcomes of self-reported physical and mental health among Post-9/11 Veterans stratified by traumatic brain injury (TBI) severity, we hypothesized that more severe TBI would be associated with significantly poorer outcomes.

METHODS: A prospective longitudinal survey of physical and mental health status was conducted with a national cohort of Post-9/11 Veterans. We then used generalized linear models (GLM) to assess the unique contribution of TBI severity on long-term outcomes after controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, comorbidity phenotypes, and deployment experiences.

RESULTS: TBI of any severity was associated with significantly poorer outcomes relative to the No TBI group. However, the manifestation of these outcomes identified in our study differed meaningfully by TBI severity level.

CONCLUSIONS: Veterans with any TBI exposure experience poorer long-term outcomes than those with no TBI even when covariates are considered. In particular, measures of somatization, PTSD symptom distress, and depression indicate pervasive and long-term health concerns among individuals with TBI. Additional research is required to fully explicate what appear to be complex relationships among TBI severity, physical and mental well-being, combat exposures, and socioeconomic resources in this population.

Language: en

Keywords

Comorbidity; health status; mental health; self report; stress disorders