In his session “Psychological Health Effects of Deployment” on the first day of the Trauma Spectrum Conference, Dr. Stephen Cozza, professor at the Uniformed Services University, showed a picture drawn by a five-year-old boy whose father had lost both lower extremities while serving in combat. The son’s drawing “of a person” reflected the challenges a young child faces when a parent is seriously injured. The boy started his drawing at the feet and drew progressive sections upward as he approached the head, at times leaving limbs disconnected. The boy struggled with connecting all the parts of the body, revealing his anxiety with his father’s injury and a desire to master the process of healing, as well as a sense of body integrity.

Dr. Cozza’s lecture at the conference was part of an all-encompassing, fundamental meeting to unveil and further research on polytrauma, recovery and reintegration of service members, veterans and their families. Day one of the conference covered a variety of topics surrounding polytrauma, including management of patients in theater and during transport, the impact of deployment on health care providers, comorbidities in spinal cord rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and burn rehabilitation.

“The conference helped identify innovative TBI, post traumatic stress, substance abuse and other polytrauma-related research, treatment and challenges to improve future delivery of health care for our returning service members,” said Jacob B. Gadd, deputy director for health care with The American Legion and conference attendee.

One significant development in TBI research was revealed in the keynote address, given by Dr. Elaine Peskind, Friends of Alzheimer's Research professor and director of Clinical Research and Mental Health Services at the University of Washington. She spoke of the potential connection between mild TBIs and the increase in a service member’s risk for eventual Alzheimer’s disease and other common late-life neurodegenerative disorders.

Other emerging research presentations included “Gender Concerns and Polytrauma,” where Dr. Sally Haskell spoke of the differences between women and men service members when facing psychological stress. Her ongoing study revealed that not only is chronic pain more common in female service members, but major depression is more common as well.

Retired Army Maj. Ed Pulido spoke of his personal accounts with polytrauma and how he sought out treatment for recovery after becoming an amputee. “If we continue to research and provide local communities assistance, we’re changing the way we do business,” he said in his speech, which included many of the researchers and medical personnel in the audience. “What you are doing for me and others is truly valuable and remarkable. You’re making sure you leave no one behind in the battlefield.”

*Stay tuned for highlights from day two of the conference as well as links to presentations.