title: Cognitive and self-reported psychological outcomes of blast-induced mild traumatic brain injury in veterans: a preliminary study.
abstract: The increased use of explosives in combat has resulted in a large number of returning veterans suffering from blast-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and self-reported complications. It remains unclear whether this increase in self-reported difficulties is unique to the blast mechanism or stressful preinjury environment and whether cognitive-functioning deficits correspond with these difficulties in the postacute phase. This study examined the relationship between cognitive performance and self-reported psychological and somatic symptoms of blast-related mTBI compared with civilian mTBI, independent of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Twelve veterans with blast-related mTBI were compared to 18 individuals with civilian mTBI on cognitive tests and self-report questionnaires. Univariate analyses failed to reveal differences on any individual cognitive test. Further, veterans reported more psychological and somatic complaints. These self-reported difficulties were not significantly correlated with neuropsychological performance. Overall, preliminary results suggest that in the postacute phase, subjective complaints related to blast-related mTBI do not covary with objective cognitive performance. Additionally, cognitive outcomes from blast-related mTBI were similar to those of civilian forms of mTBI. Future studies should identify the cognitive and self-reported sequelae of blast-related mTBI independent of comorbid PTSD in a larger sample of veterans.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Missouri-St. Louis , Saint Louis , Missouri.
authors.forename: Jacob D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bolzenius
authors.forename: P Tyler
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Roskos
authors.forename: Lauren E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Salminen
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Bucholz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D057566:Self Report; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: PTSD; blast injury; cognition; mild TBI; traumatic brain injury