DCoE Blog

• What You Need to Know About Substance Abuse and TBI

  Posted by Diana Moon, DCoE Public Affairs on February 5, 2013

  

  U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Tina Staffieri

  For many, drinking in moderation doesn’t pose a problem. But for those with traumatic brain injury (TBI), using drugs or alcohol to cope can be dangerous. Providers need to be aware that failure to treat substance abuse problems following TBI may be counterproductive to a successful recovery, and lead to added medical, psychiatric or behavioral problems, unemployment and family troubles for patients.

  The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) addressed these concerns during the January webinar, “Substance Abuse and Traumatic Brain Injury: Magnitude, Manifestations, Myths and Management.” Dr. Charles H. Bombardier, professor of rehabilitation medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, discussed key messages for health professionals to consider when working with patients with both substance abuse and TBI, which included:

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  Categories: Traumatic Brain Injury , Research , Substance Misuse Treatment , Treatment , Psychological Health   |   Comments (6)

• Fighting Stigma with Technology: Survey Seeks Service Member Feedback

  Posted by Dr. Karen O’Brien on October 31, 2012

  

  A soldier utilizes a telehealth mobile application on an iPad to learn more about stress management. (Photo by National Center for Telehealth & Technology)

  As a mental health provider at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., and a former Department of Veterans Affairs provider, I can’t count the number of times service members and veterans have expressed concerns that admitting to a mental health problem might lead to demotion, loss of security clearance and even discharge from the service.

  I have also heard many service members and veterans express the view that only “weak” people talk about their problems. This, and similar myths prevent service members from seeking psychological health care:

  • Coming in for care will hurt my career
  • I will lose leadership roles and the trust of my unit
  • If posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were real, everyone exposed to trauma would get it
  • People who weren’t wounded shouldn’t have PTSD
  • Treatment doesn’t work

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  Categories: Technology , Research , PTSD , Veterans , Treatment , Psychological Health , Leadership   |   Comments (6)

• ‘Military Medicine’ Supplement Focuses on Psychological Health, TBI

  Posted by Dino Teppara on September 19, 2012

  

  DCoE develops special medical journal supplement to highlight advances in psychological health and TBI. (DCoE photo)

  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.

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  Categories: Traumatic Brain Injury , Research , Collaborations , Stress , PTSD , Veterans , DCoE , Substance Misuse Treatment , Depression , Psychological Health   |   Comments (0)

• Do Women Differ From Men in their Psychological Health Needs?

  Posted by Dr. Kate McGraw , DCoE clinical psychologist on June 7, 2012

  	Spc. Brittany Williams, 7th Signal Command (Theater), prepares to reassemble her rifle for the react to contact lane, during the Signal Command’s Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year competition in 2010. (U.S. Army photo)

  Do you know a woman who is in the military or is a veteran? Wonder if her psychological health needs are different than those of men? Researchers are focusing on gender differences related to military psychological health, identifying interesting results. For instance, let’s look at posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as it relates to military women.

  PTSD is a psychological health disorder that gets a lot of attention in the military community. It includes the experience of a traumatic event, followed by symptoms that impair an individual’s ability to function. These include re-experiencing the traumatic event, persistent avoidance of things associated with the trauma, feeling numb, and new feelings of increased physiological arousal (such as increased startle reflex, difficulty with sleep or irritability).

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  Categories: Women , Research , PTSD , Veterans , Psychological Health , Deployments   |   Comments (2)

• T2 Treatments for PTSD Get Virtual

  Posted by Robyn Mincher , DCoE Strategic Communications on December 13, 2011

  	U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Renae Kleckner

  A service member puts on a headset with a screen for each eye. He’s given a joystick that’s built with low-frequency vibrations and sounds, mirroring the vehicle he drove while on the battlefield. As he navigates through the virtual combat world, his head movements are tracked with an orientation system. Pre-fabricated smells mimicking burning rubber and weapons firing are released into the air, and the service member ventures into virtual war.

  This is the new Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) being studied by National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2), a Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury center. T2 is currently researching this therapy, which places service members face-to-face with their unique experiences on the battlefield to help treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to help service members process memories. Once the study is completed, this unique treatment will be offered to service members and veterans.

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  Categories: Technology , Research , PTSD , Treatment , Psychological Health   |   Comments (9)

• Mind Over Matter? At T2 The Two Work Together

  Posted by Jayne Davis , DCoE Strategic Communications on December 6, 2011

  	Subject matter experts and developers at National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2) work together to create mobile apps for members of the military community. (T2 photo by Bill Wheeler)

  At the National Center for Telehealth and Technology (T2), a Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) center, psychologists and technology developers work together to create innovative products that help users address psychological health and traumatic brain injury concerns. I asked T2 experts, Dr. Nancy Kao Rhiannon, research psychologist, and Roger Reeder, senior developer for mobile applications, to tell us a little bit about how their collaborative process brings new products to life.

  Q: How does the creative process for new products begin? Can it start with either the psychologist or the developer?

  Rhiannon: Typically, one of our subject matter experts (SME) shares a concept for a product meant to benefit service members. There’s a lot of interplay between the SME and the developer. While the SME may have the idea and how it can be applied, the developer is the one who actually makes the technology work.

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  Categories: Traumatic Brain Injury , Technology , Research , Collaborations , Resources , Psychological Health   |   Comments (0)