Is It Post-traumatic Stress or Traumatic Brain Injury?

Many of the symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury overlap. I believe the original developers of the diagnosis of PTSD were not well informed about TBI, and that many patients diagnosed with PTSD may, in fact, be exhibiting symptoms of traumatic brain injury. Many of the symptoms of PTSD are neurobehavioral or neurocognitive. The role of the endocrine system needs to be considered when making a diagnosis, particularly in what we refer to as “treatment resistant” cases, i.e., people whose conditions are not improving with traditional psychotherapy, medications, or other standard forms of practice.

The advancement of medicine is often fueled by the lessons of war, and this is particularly true with PTSD and TBI. In fact, we would not have the diagnosis of PTSD if it were not for the Vietnam War.

Read more at Psychology Today.