Recently, the University of California, San Diego UC San Diego School of Medicine received a 60 million dollar allow for a five-year study to determine better prevention and treatment methods of post traumatic stress disorder PTSD and traumatic brain injury TBI among American victims and war veterans/soldiers.
The study, which is funded by the Department of Defense Psychological Health/Traumatic Brain Injury Research Program DoD PH/TBI, will test new therapies to “prevent illness and enhance recovery in individuals at risk for adverse psychological, emotional and cognitive outcomes” caused by TBI and PTSD, according to UC news release.
What is PTSD and TBI
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, PTSD is defined as “an anxiety disorder that develops after a terrifying event or ordeal in which severe physical harm occurred or was threatened.”
Approximately 7.7 million U.S. adults suffer from the condition, and this figure is only increasing as American veterans return home facing physical, mental and emotional stress and challenges from a combination of TBI and PTSD.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke NINDS confirms that TBI is what’s known as an “acquired brain injury or simple head injury” that has occurred after a trauma or blunt force negatively impacts the brain. An individual can often suffer from TBI in a mild to severe manner and most recently, more Americans who have served in the Iraq War are suffering from TBI after returning home. In fact, some researchers have said that TBI is the signature wound of the war in Iraq.
Living with TBI, PTSD Symptoms and Side Effects
There are an array of symptoms characterize both conditions, and, the symptoms often overlap one another. The side effects commonly associated with TBI can be severe and might include the following, according to the NINDS:
Headache
Dizziness
Convulsions
Lightheadedness
Confusion
Blurred vision
Ringing in the ears
Bad taste in the mouth
Fatigue and lethargy
Sleep disruptions
Behavioral or mood changes
Amnesia/memory troubles
Inability to concentrate
Difficulty paying attention
Nausea
Slurred speech
Extremity numbness
Loss of coordination
Restlessness
Agitation
PTSD side effects fall into three main categories, according to the National Library of Medicine NLM. The categories include repeated/reliving symptoms, avoidance symptoms and arousal symptoms. The repeated PTSD symptoms are:
Reoccurring stress
Reoccurring memories of a traumatic event
Physical reactions to a traumatic event
Flashback episodes of the traumatic occurrence
The PTSD avoidance symptoms include:
Emotional numbness
The feeling of having no future
The inability to remember important aspects of life
Avoidance of people, places and objects
Feelings of detachment
Less emotion/expression of moods
Finally, the PTSD symptoms that fall under the arousal category are:
Inability to concentrate
Exaggerated emotions or responses when startled
Hypervigilance
Outbursts of anger and irritability
Difficulties sleeping
PTSD victims may also find that they suffer from additional symptoms including:
Paleness
Fever
Headache
Chest Palpitations
Dizziness
Excitability
Agitation
Fainting
It is advisable for patients suffering from both brain injury-related conditions to seek medical attention, even if symptoms may not be present, the long-term effects of TBI can be severe. According to the Brain Injury Association of Americans, at least 1.4 million Americans suffer from TBI annually, nearly 50,000 die and 235,000 are hospitalized. However, it is unknown how many individuals suffer from TBI and go untreated.
Because of the severity of TBI/PTSD and the interference it can have on an victims life, it is possible for a traumatic brain injury victim to develop litigation. A traumatic brain injury lawsuit might provide a victim with the monetary compensation they need to pay for pricey medical bills and TBI treatments. To learn more about the development of TBI lawsuit, consult with an experienced TBI attorney who will often offer a free legal consultation.
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