title: Traumatic brain injury and PTSD screening efforts evaluated using latent class analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To empirically identify latent classes of service members according to persistent postconcussive symptom patterns and to characterize the identified classes relative to other postdeployment variables including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) screening results. Such comparisons may directly inform policy regarding these routine assessments and translate to improved treatment decisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-report data were obtained for 12,581 combat-exposed male U.S. Navy and Marine Corps personnel who returned from deployment in 2008-2009 and completed a Post-Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA) and an associated Post-Deployment Health Reassessment (PDHRA). Persistent postconcussive symptoms indicated on the PDHRA were used as manifest variables in a latent class analysis yielding 4 distinct classes: systemic, cognitive/behavioral, comorbid, and nonpresenting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the nonpresenting class endorsed few or no postconcussive symptoms, the systemic and cognitive/behavioral classes displayed elevated likelihoods of neurological and mental health symptoms, respectively. Members of the comorbid class had an increased probability of reporting a wide range of symptoms across both domains. Characterization of identified classes suggested that class membership may indicate the presence or absence of persistent conditions resulting from head injury and/or mental health issues. Under this assumption, estimated class membership probabilities implied a rate of probable neurological injury among this sample to be 17.9%, whereas the standard assessments aimed at identifying repercussions of mild TBI reported a positive screening rate of only 13.1%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggest that the routinely administered PDHA and PDHRA appear to underestimate the true prevalence of service members experiencing postdeployment health problems. Supplemental items or an alternative screening algorithm incorporating persistent postconcussive symptoms may enable identification of additional cases requiring treatment following return from deployment.
authors: Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center.
authors: Hilary J
authors: HJ
authors: Aralis
authors: Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center.
authors: Caroline A
authors: CA
authors: Macera
authors: Warfighter Performance Department, Naval Health Research Center.
authors: Mitchell J
authors: MJ
authors: Rauh
authors: Medical Modeling, Simulation and Mission Support Department.
authors: Andrew J
authors: AJ
authors: MacGregor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D007730:Kuwait; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057566:Self Report; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult