Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) has been called the signature injury of the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Despite the prevalence of this injury, it is still widely misunderstood by many people. To help spread information about this issue, March has been declared as Brain Injury Awareness month.
As a researcher and clinician who has worked with military personnel and Veterans for over 15 years, one of my most important priorities is providing the best assessment and treatment possible to those experiencing post-deployment mental health problems. While excellent, evidence-based treatments exist for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), many military personnel and Veterans continue to meet diagnostic criteria for PTSD after psychotherapy,1 highlighting an imperative need for innovative treatments. Designing, improving and implementing these treatments is a major focus of my research.
One-third
The fraction of military members moved by the Department of Defense every year, according to a recent RAND Corporation report -- Tour Lengths, Permanent Changes of Station, and Alternatives for Savings and Improved Stability. The report looked at how much money could be saved if DoD reduced the number of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves by extending tours of duty. Because a variety of alternatives were considered, the estimated annual savings range was broad -- $19 million to $84 million.
Welcome to this week’s edition of CDP News! We like to use this space to review recent happenings in and around the Center for Deployment Psychology, while also looking ahead to upcoming events. March is shaping up to be one busy month!
The CDP's weekly research update contains the latest news, journal articles and useful links from around the web. Some of this week's topics include:
● PTSD Research Quarterly -- Forty Years After the War: How are Vietnam Veterans Doing Today?
● Federal Health Care Center: VA and DOD Need to Address Ongoing Difficulties and Better Prepare for Future Integrations. (GAO)