O3–10–05: Traumatic brain injury and comorbid neuropsychiatric symptoms in an older veteran population
Year: 2013
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with disability in younger veterans and can be complicated by cognitive complaints, depressive symptoms, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The prevalence of TBI in older veterans, a population at high risk for both military and civilian TBI, has not been well-characterized. The objective of our study was to determine the prevalence of TBI and comorbid neuropsychiatric symptoms in this population. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 298 residents living independently recruited from Armed Forces Retirement Home (Washington, DC) and Veterans Home of California-Yountville. TBI exposure was determined by the Ohio State University TBI Questionnaire and defined as head injury resulting in loss of consciousness or hospitalization. PTSD was assessed using the PTSD-17 Checklist. Participants self-reported lifetime presence of psychiatric symptoms or diagnoses (either self or physician diagnosed) and severity of subjective memory complaints and completed objective cognitive orientation items. Mean participant age was 78.5 years; 84% were white; 90% were male. The overall rate of TBI was 41% (n = 123): 13% had military TBI; 36% had civilian TBI; 7% had both. Those veterans with TBI were more likely to have psychiatric symptoms or disorders compared to those without TBI (72.9% vs. 43.2%, P = 0.01), including depressive (58.7% vs. 30.6%, P< 0.001) and PTSD symptoms (28.1% vs. 10.9%, P < 0.001). Those with TBI also had a higher severity score for current symptoms on the PTSD checklist (27.4 vs. 21.9, P = 0.001) and higher frequency of subjective memory problems (66.3% vs. 46.7%, P = 0.001), and performed worse on orientation questions (23.1% vs. 15.3% missed at least 1 or more questions), but this was of borderline statistical significance (P = 0.10). TBI is a common occurrence in the older veterans residing in retirement homes, affecting about 40%, and is associated with a higher prevalence of psychiatric and cognitive symptoms.
Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia
Authors: Sophia Wang, Carlee Culver, Ramon Diaz‐Arrastia, Marcella McCormack, Sissay Awoke, Kristine Yaffe
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W2085748363