198055 Returning vets with ptsd/tbi: Improving identification and providing care

Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 12:30 PM

Ronald William Manderscheid, PhD , Global Health Sector, SRA International, Mental Health and Substance Use Programs, Rockville, MD
Epidemiological research conducted over the past two years shows that as many as 40% of vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan will experience mental health or substance use conditions, and that at least half of these will have post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and/or traumatic brain injury (tbi). Other recent research shows that tbi is a very strong predictor of ptsd. Hence, an urgent need exists to develop effective screening tools for these disorders and to embed these tools in effective care-delivery systems. This presentation will describe some new screening tools for ptsd and tbi that have recently been developed, and will demonstrate the full range of contexts in which the tools can be applied by the U.S. Departments of Defense and VA. The presentation will also describe the range of care delivery systems that will be needed to provide appropriate care for ptsd and tbi--ranging from virtual clinics, to telephonic care, to traditional interpersonal care. All of this work has considerable implications for mental health and health services researchers and practitioners who are interested in the health conditions of returning vets, as well as for national health and health care reform efforts.

Learning Objectives:
Describe the ptsd/tbi epidemiology of vets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Identify new screening tools for ptsd/tbi that are now becoming available. Demonstrate how these tools can be used to improve the delivery of mental health and primary care.

Keywords: Veterans' Health, Mental Health Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: NA

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked for the past 3 years to develop screening and care delivery systems for returning vets with ptsd/tbi.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
SRA International Mental Health and Substance Use Employment (includes retainer)

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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