War on brain injuries: Researchers study effects on soldiers
Troops battered by explosions in distant combat zones are now required to undergo brain injury screening before returning to duty, say experts at a Defense Department center created to deal with brain injuries and stress disorders.
A need for innovative approaches is becoming more urgent as the number of cases grows. In 2003, when the United States invaded Iraq, 12,886 troops were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries. By 2009, that number more than doubled to 27,862. During that time, it was often the case that troops reported to the hospital only if they felt something was wrong.
Requiring everyone involved in an explosion to receive a medical evaluation removes some of the stigma of self-reporting, said experts with the Washington, D.C.,-based Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury. The examination results are entered into personal medical files, which also provide a way to track cases.
