Sep 23, 2011 - Physicians and researchers working to decipher traumatic brain injuries and other psychological illnesses must focus on differentiating between TBI and post-traumatic stress disorder, injuries that sometimes go hand-in-hand but often don’t, leading to misdiagnosis or incorrect treatment, Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Peter Chiarelli said Thursday.Addressing military and civilian health care practitioners at a TBI forum in Washington, D.C., Chiarelli said studies on biomarkers that indicate brain trauma show promise for developing blood tests to detect concussions, and alternative therapies, like acupuncture given near the frontlines after a concussion, are proving helpful to troops.
But more must be done on diagnosing the cause of symptoms such as concentration issues, irritability, personality changes, memory loss and confusion — all which can manifest from TBI or PTSD, Chiarelli said.
“The fact is, the medical community is very proficient at fixing mechanical problems with the body. And our natural tendency is to say the same can be done for the brain. But that simply isn’t the case,” he said.
The forum, hosted by the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, a nonprofit medical research organization, brought together civilian and military physicians, scientists and researchers to discuss head injuries.
Previous TBI symposia have led to the development of screening and treatment protocols for head injuries and post traumatic stress. read more>>>
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