Traumatic Brain Injuries: Unreported and Untreated in an Army Population

Area of Science:

• Military medicine
• Neuroscience
• Public health

Background:

• Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) affects a significant portion of deployed service members.
• Confidentiality and career concerns are barriers to seeking medical care for mTBI.
• Understanding mTBI history, treatment, and associated stigmas is crucial for military personnel.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) history among Army personnel.
• To examine medical treatment-seeking behaviors following suspected concussions.
• To assess the stigma associated with mTBI within the military population.

Main Methods:

• An anonymous questionnaire was administered to 5,174 Army volunteers in March 2018.
• Data collection focused on mTBI history, medical care utilization, and perceived stigma.
• Participants were surveyed during Brain Injury Awareness Month activities.

Main Results:

• 10% of surveyed Soldiers reported one or more mTBIs during their military careers.
• Only 52% of Soldiers who experienced a concussion sought medical care.
• Primary reasons for not seeking care included belief that the injury did not require care (64%) and fear of career impact (18%).
• mTBI experience was associated with a higher reported stigma (28% vs. 11%).

Conclusions:

• Soldiers often underreport concussions and forgo medical attention.
• Educational initiatives could enhance reporting and medical screening for concussive injuries.
• Further research is needed to understand the long-term effects of untreated mTBIs.