title: Diagnosing and treating traumatic brain injury among veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars: implications for social work.
abstract: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious condition affecting many American veterans who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Using a biopsychosocial perspective, the authors delineate and discuss the challenges of diagnosing and treating this neurological disability among soldiers who have returned to the United States from combat theaters in the Middle East. They explain recent changes including the Veterans Affairs Polytrauma System of Care, as well as social work's role on the interdisciplinary team who promote rehabilitation and community reentry for OEF/OIF veterans with TBI.
authors.affiliation: College of Social Work, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, USA. speziale.1@osu.edu
authors.forename: Bette
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Speziale
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kulbago
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menter
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D024382:Professional Role; D012947:Social Work; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology