title: Understanding the neuropsychological consequences of deployment stress: a public health framework.
abstract: Complaints of neuropsychological dysfunction have emerged among subsets of military personnel after almost every major deployment involving western nations in recent history. Although deployments have been characterized by a range of neural risk factors, psychological stress is common to most prolonged deployments. This review uses a public health framework to address associations between deployment-related stress and neuropsychological performance. Specifically, the review covers mechanisms by which deployment-related psychological stress may affect neuropsychological functioning, considers the advantages and disadvantages of approaching the question from a public health perspective, and discusses how epidemiological research may sort out questions regarding course, cause, and effect.
authors.affiliation: Psychology Service and VA National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts 02130, USA. jennifer.vasterling@va.gov
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Vasterling
authors.forename: Susan P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Proctor
mesh_terms: D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011634:Public Health; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology