American Legion releases report on TBI and PTSD - Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

American Legion releases report on TBI and PTSD

 

After conducting research for more than two years, the Legion shares its findings and

recommendations with Congress, VA and the public

WASHINGTON (Sept. 12, 2013) -- The American Legion released a report on Sept. 11 that is the culmination of a study the wartime veterans organization did on current treatments and best practices for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The report, entitled "The War Within," includes findings and recommendations based on comprehensive research, conducted from January 2011 to February 2013, by an American Legion ad hoc committee chaired by William Detweiler, past national commander of the Legion.

Detweiler said the report shows that while the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) use a number of traditional medical treatments for TBI and PTSD cases, "they have not done a lot of research on alternative methods. There's no simple answer to what works as far as PTSD or TBI is concerned, but we found that the (DoD and VA) medical profession shied away from certain things which they considered to be alternative medicine."

For example, Detweiler said that hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is one alternative treatment that "works for some people. It's not the answer for everybody, but (DoD and VA) have shied away from putting any serious money into doing studies."

Key findings from the Legion's report include:

• Currently, VA and DoD have no well-defined approach to the treatment of TBI; providers are merely treating the symptoms.

• Initial attempts to diagnose TBI is often complicated by the clinical overlap of TBI with PTSD and substance-abuse disorder.

• VA and DoD research studies are lacking for new, innovative and non-pharmacological treatments, such as virtual reality therapy, HBOT and other complementary/alternative medicine therapies.

• DoD and VA have no fast-track mechanisms for employing innovative or novel therapies in a standardized way.

The report recommended that:

1. Congress should provide oversight and funding to VA and DoD for innovative TBI and PTSD research currently used in the private sector.

2. Congress should increase DoD and VA budgets to improve the research, screening, diagnosis and treatment of TBI and PTSD, and to develop joint offices for research collaboration.

3. DoD and VA need to accelerate their research efforts to properly diagnose and develop evidence-based treatments for TBI and PTSD.

4. Servicemembers and veterans suffering from TBI and PTSD should not be prescribed medications that are not FDA-approved; those participating in research studies should give their consent and be provided with the disclosure of any negative effects associated with the treatment.

In his testimony before a joint session of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs committees on Sept. 10, American Legion National Commander Daniel Dellinger said the ad hoc committee "worked closely with mental health experts, physicians, DoD, VA, and veterans suffering from these conditions," and found that "current PTSD and TBI screening and identification procedures are inadequate, and existing treatment programs are lacking."

 

The "War Within" report is being distributed to members of Congress, the Obama Administration, VA officials, and the American Legion's membership. The report can be downloaded from the Legion's website. (http://legion.org/documents/legion/pdf/american-legion-war-within.pdf)

 

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Contact: Marty Callaghan, 202-263-5758/202-251-8644; mcallaghan@legion.org.