What’s the impact of multiple deployments and repeated traumatic stressors on service members? Why are a significant number of military personnel experiencing psychological injuries following their deployments? What treatment options are available? What’s being done to help advance the field of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and psychological health?

If these questions are on your mind, consider reading the special edition of “Military Medicine.” Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) subject matter experts and others share updated research to better understand current psychological health and TBI conditions affecting the health, occupational and personal functioning of service members and veterans. Published by The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS), the journal identifies effective screening tools, diagnostic technologies and treatments for major areas of concern like posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, substance use disorder and TBI.

“This special supplement was developed for providers in a collaborative effort across the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs with academia, to promote positive progress made after more than a decade of unconventional warfare,” said Carlton Drew, DCoE education directorate director.

The supplement includes articles that cover a range of relevant topics including:

• Prevalence of PTSD in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
• Evidence-based screening, diagnosis and treatment of substance use disorders among service members and veterans
• Prevalence of major depression among military personnel
• Diagnosis and management of moderate and severe TBI sustained in combat
• Future approaches to military medicine
• Resiliency tips

DCoE psychological health and TBI treatment resources available on our website are also highlighted and include:

• Mild TBI Web-based case studies, which contain patient scenarios to help health care professionals better understand screening, diagnosis and management of TBI symptoms in the non-deployed setting
• Mild TBI Pocket Guide
• Co-occurring Conditions Toolkit: Mild TBI and Psychological Health

“Significant progress has been made in military medicine during the last several years,” said Navy Capt. Paul S. Hammer, DCoE director. “In the fall of 2011, I visited Afghanistan and was thrilled to see concussion care centers, combat stress restoration centers, clear TBI management guidance, innovative treatment practices, and vastly improved clinical data collection.”

Anyone can download the special Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury issue of “Military Medicine” for free electronically or purchase a hard copy through AMSUS. DCoE also provides free podcasts summarizing seven articles in the supplement that you can now listen to.

Visit the DCoE news room, blog as well as our Facebook and Twitter pages often to stay updated on the latest advancements in psychological health and TBI treatment.

Additional resources from DCoE worth checking out include:

• Substance Use Disorder Toolkit and “Dispelling the Myths About Substance Use Disorders”
• Major Depressive Disorder Toolkit and “Dispelling the Myths About Depression”
• Treatments for PTSD