| Abstract: | Over 2.5 million U.S. military members have deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), and more than 48,000 service members have been aeromedically evacuated (A/E'ed) from both theaters for both battle and nonbattle injuries. The purpose of this study was to consider differences in clinical presentation associated with dispositional status among a sample of 157 deployed service members evaluated subsequent to a suspected brain injury and to identify which symptomatic variables are most associated with the decision to recommend A/E. Results from an in-theater hospital suggest that symptoms persisting to the point of clinical evaluation were associated more strongly with disposition than symptoms reported immediately postinjury. When considering a range of common concussive and psychological symptoms associated with brain injury, only memory problems, irritability, and hearing problems were associated with increased likelihood for A/E from a combat zone following suspected brain injury. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved) |
