The Wall Street Journal, “Injuries of Veterans, Football Players Are Linked to Dementia Later in Life,” By Shirley S. Wang, July 19, 2011
In two studies, one of 280,000 veterans and another of 500 professional football players, traumatic injury to the brain was found linked to the emergence of Alzheimer’s Disease later in life. In the study of veterans, diagnoses of traumatic brain injuries tripled the risk for diagnosis of dementia or the sumptoms of dementia later in life. The studies were presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference in Paris in 2011.
Los Angeles Times Booster Shots (Health Blog), Women on War Front More Likely to Get Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Study Finds, By Shari Roan, May 19, 2011
Men have always been in combat, and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), has become a familiar term as a result. After World War I it was called “Shell Shock” and many are familiar with the psychiatric scars the Vietnam War left on many veterans. The war in Iraq, however, has been fought by more women than any war before, and paying the price in disproportionate numbers according to one study.
Health Day, “Major Depression Often Follows Brain Injury,” By Amanda Gardner, May 18, 2010
“Patients…are at 8 times the risk after head trauma, study finds…In this study of 559 patients with traumatic brain injury, more than half (53.1 percent) also endured major depressive disorder at some point during the study follow-up.”…read the complete article at HealthDay.com
“In the year following a traumatic brain injury, roughly half of survivors likely experience a bout of clinical depression…says a study published Tuesday [5/18/10] in The Journal of the American Medical Assn.….reported significantly more pain, greater mobility problems and more difficulty carrying out their usual responsibilities than those who were not plagued by post-injury depression…”
… latimesblogs.com/booster shots
Reuters, “Major Depression Common After Brain Injury,” By Rachael Myers Lowe, May 18, 2010
“Severe depression within the first year of a traumatic brain injury [TBI] is common but treatment is not, Washington State Researchers Report.”…reuters.com
Research Referenced (in all articles) from: The Journal of the American Medical Association: “Rates of Major Depressive Disorder and Clinical Outcomes Following Traumatic Brain Injury.” By Bombardier, Fann, Temkin, Esselman, Barber, and Dikmen, JAMA. 2010;303(19):1938-1945.
USA TODAY, “Mental Care Stays Are Up in Military,” By Gregg Zoroya, May 14, 2010
“WASHINGTON — Mental health disorders caused more hospitalizations among U.S. troops in 2009 than any other reason, according to medical data released recently by the Pentagon…historic high reflects the growing toll of nearly nine years of war…”
“…In 2009, there were 17,538 hospitalizations for mental health issues throughout the military, the study shows. That compares with 17,354 for pregnancy and childbirth reasons, and 11,156 for injuries and battle wounds….” [emphasis added]
Toronto Star, “Is Russell Williams Still Grasping for Control?” By Jim Rankin, April 18, 2010
[Background: Col. Russell Williams in the Canadian Forces and a former Base Commander is accused in a string of murders, rapes, now 82 counts of breaking and entering and an unfolding story of escalating violent behavior. Toronto Star reporter Jim Rankin interviewed Stephen Raffle, M.D., and other forensic mental health experts to gain insight into Col. Williams' recent behavior in jail: a hunger strike, what appear to be suicide attempts and their meaning]
“…the major thing is loss of control and trying to remain in control of an out-of-control situation,” says Raffle, who has interviewed serial killers and gives expert testimony in criminal cases…Hypothetically, assuming that he did these things, there may be a sense of shame, and he sees (suicide) as an honourable way out,” says Raffle. “I think this is a man trying to regain control. It’s his only possible escape at this point….”
