DOD, VA launch $100M TBI and PTSD effort
Published: September 21, 2012
WASHINGTON – Defense and Veterans Affairs officials will invest more than $100 million in studies to improve diagnosis and treatment of mild Traumatic Brain Injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, the signature wounds of the most recent wars.
The announcement comes on the heels of President Barack Obama’s executive order last month calling for better access to mental health services for veterans and active-duty military. Defense studies have shown that about 15 percent of troops who served in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer “impaired functioning” as a result of PTSD.
The new studies will be conducted by the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD and the Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium. VA officials said the CAP research will focus on potential indicators of brain trauma and new PTSD treatments, as well as prevention .
The neurotrauma consortium will focus on mild TBI and understanding how that injury can lead to other serious health problems.
