Issue title: Military Traumatic Brain Injury and Blast
Guest editors: David F. Moorexy and Michael S. Jaffeex
Article type: Research Article
Authors: Lew, Henry L.a; b; * | Amick, Melissa M.c | Kraft, Malissac | Stein, Murray B.d; e | Cifu, David X.f; g
Affiliations: [a] Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC), Richmond, VA, USA | [b] Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA | [c] Polytrauma and TBI Research Center, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA | [d] Departments of Psychiatry and Family & Preventive Medicine, University of California San Diego, CA, USA | [e] Psychiatry Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, CA, USA | [f] Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA | [g] PM&R Service, Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Healthcare System, Richmond, VA, USA | [x] Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA | [y] Institute of Soldier Nanotechnology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Henry L. Lew MD, Ph.D., PM&R Service, Polytrauma and TBI Research Center, VA Boston Health Care System, 150 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130, USA. Tel.: +1 857 364 2135; Fax: +1 857 364 5429; E-mail: Henry.Lew@VA.gov
Abstract: The driving abilities of service members returning from Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) have not been well reported and are an important aspect of their return to normal life. This article reviews the unique risk factors for unsafe driving in this cohort. In particular, the cognitive and psychological symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury and postraumatic stress disorder, two of the most common diagnoses affecting these returning warriors, are specified, and their possible association with impaired driving is examined. The potential negative impact of the “battlemind driving tactics” (i.e., evasive driving skills) acquired by these service members as part of their military tours is also highlighted. The article concludes with comments about the functional consequences of impaired driving in this population, including limits to participation in rehabilitation and community reintegration, as well as recognition of the need for further research in this area.
Keywords: Traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress disorder, motor vehicle crashes, deployment, evasive driving skills, veterans
DOI: 10.3233/NRE-2010-0562
Journal: NeuroRehabilitation, vol. 26, no. 3, pp. 271-278, 2010
