A pilot study evaluating early psychosocial risk and brain health outcomes in Veterans with mild TBI

The goal of this pilot study was to describe the relationship between early psychosocial risk (i.e., adverse childhood experiences, neighborhood disadvantage, multiple relocations) and brain health outcomes among Veterans with mild TBI. Veterans (N = 76) with mild TBI participated at an outpatient VA. This cross-sectional study involved the collection and analysis of retrospective self-report data and neuropsychological tests. Interviews and surveys included the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5, Mid-Atlantic MIRECC Assessment of Traumatic Brain Injury, Childhood Experiences Survey, Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory, PTSD Checklist for DSM-5, and Patient Health Questionnaire. Neuropsychological tests included the California Verbal Learning Test-3, Controlled Oral Word Association and Animal Naming, Stroop, Trail Making Test, and WAIS-IV subtests (Digit Span, Letter Number Sequencing). Global deficit scores were calculated. Participants endorsed a wide range of psychosocial risk factors. Cognitive functioning was generally intact. There were few significant relationships between early psychosocial risk and outcomes. Early psychosocial risk was not associated with mental health or cognitive functioning.