title: Screening for traumatic brain injury in troops returning from deployment in Afghanistan and Iraq: initial investigation of the usefulness of a short screening tool for traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preliminary assessment of a new instrument, the Brief Traumatic Brain Injury Screen (BTBIS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study of 596 soldiers returning from Iraq and/or Afghanistan, comparing the consistency of their reports of traumatic brain injury (TBI) across instruments with similar TBI questions, and in a brief follow-up interview.
  
  
  METHODS
  Military base.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported probable TBI on the BTBIS and on 2 longer questionnaires, and a brief follow-up interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Self-reports of probable TBI were higher on the BTBIS, than on the longer instruments. Participants who screened positive on the BTBIS generally provided consistent information about probable TBI in the follow-up interview.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this initial study, the BTBIS demonstrated promise as part of a triage process in mass casualty situations, permitting individuals with probable TBI to self-report injury and continued symptoms. Further study, including full validation and reliability assessment, is warranted and required before these screening tools can be fully evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20012, USA.
authors.forename: Karen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Schwab
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ivins
authors.forename: Gayle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sluss-Tiller
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kiley
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lux
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Warden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000346:Afghanistan; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004244:Dizziness / Q000453:epidemiology; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007493:Iraq; D007508:Irritable Mood; D008403:Mass Screening; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008889:Military Personnel; D004856:Postural Balance; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014857:Warfare