A recent report in February 2008, indicates that one in six troops returning from Iraq has suffered at least one concussion. Typically considered temporary conditions, research is now suggesting that mild brain injuries could heighten the risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A study in the January, 2008 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine notes that concussions may be causing an array of undiagnosed neurological problems.
Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, said the study in brain trauma was long overdue. The new report found that soldiers with concussions were more likely than those with other injuries to report a variety of physical and mental symptoms, including headaches, poor sleep, and balance problems. But they were also at higher risk for stress disorder, or PTSD, with symptoms that include irritability, sleep problems, and flashbacks.
On a positive note, Richard A. Bryant, a psychologist at the University of New South Wales, cautioned that troops “should not be led to believe that they have a brain injury that will result in permanent damage.” On the contrary, it’s believed that the link to post-traumatic stress suggests that mild brain injuries have a psychological component that responds well to treatment.
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