Supported through the Henry M. Jackson Foundation and Naval Health Clinic New England (NHCNE), the conference brought together 75 attendees "committed to: finding better ways of working together, communicating to understand each other's challenges and successes, and having the willingness to network.
The goal was "to build the bridges that will ensure that every returning Soldier, Sailor, Marine, and Airman receives, 'The Right Care, At The Right Time, By The Right Provider,'" the mantra of the seminar.
Traumatic Brain Injury or TBI, is caused by a blow to the head where the brain moves rapidly within the confines of the skull, or can also be a result of penetrating trauma. While the leading causes of TBI in the U.S. are falls, motor vehicle crashes, and assaults, the leading cause for active duty military personnel in war zones is explosive blasts.
Improvised explosive devices or IED's, rocket-propelled grenades and land mines are the most common offenders. It has been estimated that over 50 percent of all combat injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan are blast injuries.
TBI, whether diagnosed as mild, moderate or severe, can temporarily or permanently impair cognitive skills, interfere with emotional well-being and diminish physical abilities. Symptoms may include memory loss; concentration or attention problems; slowed learning; difficulty with planning, reasoning or judgment; headaches; balance problems or dizziness; sleep problems; sensitivity to bright light.
Emotional and behavioral consequences can include depression, anxiety, impulsivity, irritability, aggression and thoughts of suicide. Because TBI sometimes presents without an obvious physical injury, it is often referred to as the "Invisible Injury."
The keynote speaker for the conference, Tina Trudel, PhD, President of Lakeview Healthcare Systems, Inc. and Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, outlined the correlation of TBI to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Extensive neurological research has shown that the two share common symptoms and can benefit from many of the same psychological interventions and other therapies.
Other topics presented over the two days demonstrated the complexity of the treatment of TBI, such as: TBI and Substance Abuse (alcohol, drug and medication); Brain Injury and Domestic Violence; Veterans Affairs Approach to Treatment and Systems Issues; and, Psychological Health Outreach Programs in the Northeast.
Participants benefitted from hearing the personal perspective of a parent living with a brain-injured son and soldier. Collaboration between military and civilian agencies is crucial in accessing and providing the best possible care for the patient as well as family members. Such care sometimes needs to be rendered in the community setting, close to home with support of family and friends, and not in a military facility far from the familiar.
Col. William Bograkos, Commander of the North Atlantic Regional Medical Command, Warrior Transition Unit, of the U.S. Army, and one of individuals spear heading the conference, stressed that this exchange of best practices, civilian and military, allows each group to learn from the other. Bringing the community together to take care of our troops is strongly felt in New England, and strengthening the infrastructure of care through a conference such as this is essential.
"Through open discussion and common language, the goals of the conference were to communicate, cooperate, and collaborate," said Bograkos.
Positive feedback and networking among the attendees indicate that these goals were achieved over the weekend.
Lt. Cmdr. Heidi Roberts, conference project leader from the Naval Branch Health Clinic at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, noted that the timeliness of the conference could not have been more appropriate. November has been declared National Wounded Warrior Month by Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, in an effort to communicate the Department of Defense's commitment to quality care for the nation's service members and their families.
According to Roberts, plans are already underway for a second annual New England Psychological Health and TBI Conference in 2009.