Hard-to-detect head injuries suffered by troops in combat may make them more vulnerable to posttraumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, according to a new study.
The study by the University of Rochester Medical Center finds combat injuries that may be only detected with advanced imaging techniques could give those injured a predisposition to PTSD.
Lead study author Dr. Jeffrey J. Bazarian says of his findings:
"Most people believe that, to a large extent, chronic stress from intense combat experiences triggers PTSD. Our study adds more information by suggesting that a physical force such as exposure to a bomb blast also may play a role in the genesis the syndrome."
The study appears in the Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation.
