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Clinical Research
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INDEX
Index
Introduction
Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center (DVBIC) conducts and advances research that enhances the quality, appropriateness, timeliness, and cost-effectiveness of treatment delivered to military and veteran beneficiaries with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) across the continuum of care. DVBIC research findings are applied to improve clinical care programs. Additionally, DVBIC has established a health care research infrastructure to conduct both single and multi-center studies. This infrastructure helps develop the necessary care of senior researchers needed for brain injury. DVBIC also collaborates with other governmental and civilian organizations. Specifically, DVBIC is engaged in cooperative research, education, and prevention programs with affiliated universities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, industry (e.g., pharmaceutical companies), and other interested parties.
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Index
Clinical Research Goals and Objectives:
 Investigate the usefulness of a variety of medications in treating/eliminating the effects of TBI.
Evaluate the usefulness and costs of rehabilitation strategies after TBI.
Conduct large-scale concussion/mild TBI evaluation and treatment studies to assist with decisions regarding return to play, work, training, and battlefield operations.
Develop and conduct survey studies to answer questions regarding the incidence of TBI, as well as unmet medical needs of TBI survivors; establish a battlefield survey to monitor the incidence and type of brain injuries experienced in war operations.
Index
Clinical Research Studies Currently in Progress:
Clinical Trials:
DVBIC is currently involved in several clinical trials investigating the usefulness of different medications (sertraline, citalopram, rivastigmine, valporate) in treating/eliminating the effects of TBI. These effects include anxiety disorders, postconcussion symptoms (e.g., headaches, fatigue, disordered sleep, dizziness, irritability, mood swings), agitation, and problems with memory and attention/concentration. The medications being studied have been found to be useful in treating similar symptoms in individuals who have not sustained a TBI.
Concussion Studies:
There are a number of ongoing studies focusing on the rapid and accurate evaluation and treatment of concussion or mild TBI. Brief computerized assessments are being administered to determine their usefulness in the evaluation of concussion both shortly after injury and at later follow-up. In addition to these evaluation studies, we are examining the effect of a new helmet design on number and severity of TBI's in paratroopers. In terms of treatment after concussion, in addition to the medication trial listed above, DVBIC is examining the effect of patient education and a period of rest on recovery after mild TBI.
Registry (Survey) Studies:
A follow-up survey or registry study in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently underway. In this study, approximately 300 individuals who were treated by DVBIC in the past are being interviewed by phone to determine what, if any, problems associated with the TBI they are having and what additional services these patients may need.
Index
Recently Published DVBIC Research
Winter 2004
Walker WC. (2004) Pain pathoetiology after TBI: neural and non-neural mechanisms. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 19, 72-81.
Lew, HL, Lee EH, Miyoshi Y, Chang DG, Date ES, Jerger JF: Brainstem
auditory-evoked potentials (BAEPs) as an objective tool for evaluating
hearing dysfunction in traumatic brain injury. Am J Phys Med Rehabil
2004;83:210-215
Fall 2003
Ivins BJ, Schwab KA, Warden D, Harvey LT, Hoilien MA, Powell CO, Johnson CS, Salazar AM. (2003). Traumatic brain injury in U.S. Army paratroopers: prevalence and character. Journal of Trauma, 55(4), 617-21.
Luis, C. A., Vanderploeg, R. D., Curtiss, G. (2003). Predictors for a postconcussion symptom complex in community dwelling male veterans. Journal of the International Neuropsychology Society, 9, 1001-1015.
Martin EM, Coyle MK, Warden DL, Salazar A. (2003) Telephonic nursing in traumatic brain injury. American Journal of Nursing, 103(10), 75-81.
Ryan, L.M. & Warden, D. L. (2003). Post concussion syndrome. International Review of Psychiatry, 15, 310-316.
Vanderploeg, R. D., Curtiss, G., Duchnick, J. J., Luis, C. A. (2003). Demographic, medical, and psychiatric factors in work and marital status following mild head injury. Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation, 18, 148-163.
You can visit MEDLINE http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/ to read abstracts of these articles and to obtain information on the availability of full text articles.
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