An interdisciplinary approach to the screening, diagnosis, and treatment of OEF/OIF Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury

Jenna L. Gress Smith, Nicole A. Roberts, Dominika Borowa, Mary Lu Bushnell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To implement an Integrated TBI Screening Clinic (ITSC) during the mandatory TBI evaluation process at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Referral outcomes were examined regarding Veterans who were determined to need a full neuropsychological evaluation versus those for whom mental health treatment was clinically indicated. Correlations among cognitive measures, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, and insomnia symptoms were also examined. Method: This study was a retrospective chart review study that included 138 Veterans seen between 2011 and 2014 in a post-deployment primary care clinic. Descriptive statistics and correlations were completed using the: screening Module of the Neuropsychological Assessment Battery (S-NAB), PTSD Checklist-Military version (PCL-M), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Results: 19.8% of Veterans required a referral for a full neuropsychological exam and 72.7% were referred for additional mental health services (with some Veterans being referred to both). Significant correlations were found among higher PTSD, depression, anxiety symptoms, with poorer attention and memory (all p <.05). Only PTSD was significantly correlated with poorer executive functioning (r = 0.19, p <.05). Conclusion: Integration of a multidisciplinary neuropsychological screening exam during a primary care visit with OEF/OIF Veterans may assist in better delineating symptoms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)793-801
Number of pages9
JournalApplied neuropsychology. Adult
Volume29
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022

Keywords

  • Integrated health care
  • OEF/OIF Veterans
  • mental health
  • mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)
  • multidisciplinary clinic
  • neuropsychologist

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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