Issues of PTSD and Blast-induced Traumatic Brain Injury in Armed Conflicts and Terrorists Attacks

Abstract

Military conflicts and terrorisms attacks often result in both Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and blast-induced traumatic brain injuries. These conditions exist along a continuum of severity and this may have profound consequences particularly among those individuals who present with subthreshold PTSD or unrecognized blast-induced traumatic brain injury. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders past approach has relied upon a categorical diagnostic system only. It is argued that a mixed categorical-dimensional classification system would be of greater benefit, especially since this system would include subthreshold conditions that do not meet DSM criteria for a diagnosis but that have demonstrable impacts upon an individuals’ functioning. This paper explores these issues in the hope of generating greater aware among practitioners’ and the general public.