@article{ref1,
title="Factors associated with inconsistency in self-reported mild traumatic brain injury over time among military personnel in Iraq",
journal="British journal of psychiatry",
year="2015",
author="Nelson, Nathaniel W. and Anderson, Carolyn R. and Thuras, Paul and Kehle-Forbes, Shannon M. and Arbisi, Paul A. and Erbes, Christopher R. and Polusny, Melissa A.",
volume="206",
number="3",
pages="237-244",
abstract="Background Estimates of the prevalence of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) among military personnel and combat veterans rely almost exclusively on retrospective self-reports; however, reliability of these reports has received little attention. Aims To examine the consistency of reporting of mTBI over time and identify factors associated with inconsistent reporting. <br><br>METHOD A longitudinal cohort of 948 US National Guard Soldiers deployed to Iraq completed self-report questionnaire screening for mTBI and psychological symptoms while in-theatre 1 month before returning home (time 1, T1) and 1 year later (time 2, T2). <br><br>RESULTS Most respondents (n = 811, 85.5%) were consistent in their reporting of mTBI across time. Among those who were inconsistent in their reports (n = 137, 14.5%), the majority denied mTBI at T1 and affirmed mTBI at T2 (n = 123, 89.8%). Respondents rarely endorsed mTBI in-theatre and later denied mTBI (n = 14, 10.2% of those with inconsistent reports). Post-deployment post-traumatic stress symptoms and non-specific physical complaints were significantly associated with inconsistent report of mTBI. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS Military service members' self-reports of mTBI are generally consistent over time; however, inconsistency in retrospective self-reporting of mTBI status is associated with current post-traumatic stress symptoms and non-specific physical health complaints.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0007-1250",
doi="10.1192/bjp.bp.114.149096",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.114.149096"
}