Research Paper Title

Acknowledging the Risk for Traumatic Brain Injury in Women Veterans.

Abstract

Since the Iraq and Afghanistan wars began, an unprecedented number of women have been engaging in combat operations. Likewise, the number of women using Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) services has doubled since 2001.

Military service, and deployment to combat in particular, poses certain risks for traumatic brain injury (TBI)-for all service members. However, women may have additional military and nondeployment risk factors such as intimate partner violence (IPV).

The researchers briefly review the definition and classification issues related to TBI, as well as common acute and chronic health symptoms after TBI. Specific sex differences in prognosis after TBI, in particular the neurobehavioral symptoms, are also reviewed.

The researchers then focus on the emerging literature regarding TBI in women veterans including the etiologies, outcomes, and unique challenges this population faces.

The article concludes with suggestions for enhanced screening by VA and non-VA providers alike, as well as directions for future research and clinical inquiry.

Reference

Amoroso T1, Iverson KM. (2017) Acknowledging the Risk for Traumatic Brain Injury in Women Veterans. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease. 205(4), pp.318-323. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000000621.