Repetitive traumatic brain injury, psychological symptoms, and suicide risk in a clinical sample of deployed military personnel
Abstract
Importance Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is believed to be one factor contributing to rising suicide rates among military personnel and veterans. This study investigated the association of cumulative TBIs with suicide risk in a clinical sample of deployed military personnel referred for a TBI evaluation. Objective To determine whether suicide risk is more frequent and heightened among military personnel with multiple lifetime TBIs than among those with no TBIs or a single TBI. Design Patients completed standardized self-report measures of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal thoughts and behaviors; clinical interview; and physical examination. Group comparisons of symptom scores according to number of lifetime TBIs were made, and generalized regression analyses were used to determine the association of cumulative TBIs with suicide risk. Participants Patients included 161 military personnel referred for evaluation and treatment of suspected head injury at a military hospital's TBI clinic in Iraq. Main outcomes and measures Behavioral Health Measure depression subscale, PTSD Checklist-Military Version, concussion symptoms, and Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised. Results Depression, PTSD, and TBI symptom severity significantly increased with the number of TBIs. An increased incidence of lifetime suicidal thoughts or behaviors was associated with the number of TBIs (no TBIs, 0%; single TBI, 6.9%; and multiple TBIs, 21.7%; P = .009), as was suicidal i…
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Current or former service members who have sustained one or more concussions during their service have significantly higher rates of persistent depressive symptoms and suicidality following injury compared to non-injured peers.
“Military service members (SMs) and veterans who have sustained one or more concussions during their service have significantly higher rates of persistent depressive symptoms and suicidality compared to non-injured peers.”
Between 16% and 20% of all operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn veterans have a history of mTBI, and among them, up to 22% report suicidal ideation.
“Overall, between 16% and 20% of all operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn veterans have a history of mTBI, and among them, up to 22% report suicidal ideation (SI) [4].”
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Mental Health Consequences of Traumatic Brain Injury
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- Authors
- Bryan, C. J., & Clemans, T. A.
- Affiliations
- VA Rocky Mountain Network (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bryan, Craig J.
- Venue
- JAMA Psychiatry
- Publisher
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Published
- 2013-07-01
- Volume
- 70
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 686
- ISSN
- 2168-622X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2128690563
- Cited by
- 195
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 25 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 6
- FWCI
- 16.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- JAMA Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Keywords
- repetitive traumatic brain injury, suicide risk, suicidal ideation, military personnel, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, deployed troops, concussion symptoms, suicide risk factors
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Brain Injuries, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Military Personnel, Risk Factors, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Suicide, Iraq War, 2003-2011, Suicidal Ideation, Symptom Assessment
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