Services Improve Diagnosis of Brain Injuries, PTSD

Back online and on the way home from the CF Air Force Chaplains' Conference in Winnipeg, MB. Sitting in a very nice airport lounge free to serving military, with wifi no less. Nice. Caught this item as part of this blog's ongoing PTSD watch. MP+


Services Improve Diagnosis of Brain Injuries, PTSD
By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, April 21, 2010 – Better understanding of post-combat brain injuries and psychological trauma, coupled with a host of measures to diagnose and treat such disorders, are preventing servicemembers from being unfairly discharged due to undiagnosed conditions, Defense Department officials told Congress members yesterday.

Dr. Charles L. Rice, who is performing the duties of the assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, acknowledged that such problems existed early in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but said the services had alleviated the problem with improved understanding and outreach to treat post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.

“There were concerns early in the conflicts that members suffering PTSD or TBI might be separated under the non-compensable, exclusive diagnosis of a personality disorder,” Rice said in testimony before the House Armed Services Committee’s military personnel subcommittee. “Such concerns were reasonable, given our nascent understanding of these signature injuries.”

Read the whole piece here.