Identification and Treatment of TBI and Co-occurring Psychiatric Symptoms Among OEF/OIF/OND Veterans Seeking Mental Health Services Within the State of Colorado: Establishing Consensus for Best Practices

Community Ment Health J (2013) 49:220229

DOI 10.1007/s10597-012-9572-4

ORIGINAL PAPER

Identication and Treatment of TBI and Co-occurring Psychiatric Symptoms Among OEF/OIF/OND Veterans Seeking Mental Health Services Within the State of Colorado: Establishing Consensus for Best Practices

Jennifer H. Olson-Madden Lisa A. Brenner

Bridget B. Matarazzo Gina M. Signoracci

Expert Consensus Collaborators

Received: 27 June 2012 / Accepted: 21 December 2012 / Published online: 17 January 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013

Abstract This paper highlights the results of a consensus meeting regarding best practices for the assessment and treatment of co-occurring traumatic brain injury (TBI) and mental health (MH) problems among Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn Veterans seeking care in non-Veterans Affairs Colorado community MH settings. Twenty individuals with expertise in TBI screening, assessment, and intervention, as well as the state MH system, convened to establish and review questions and assumptions regarding care for this Veteran population. Unanimous consensus regarding best practices was achieved. Recommendations for improving care for Veterans seeking care in community MH settings are provided.

Expert Consensus Collaborators and Conference Moderating Assistance are given in Appendix.

The views in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the ofcial policy or position of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government. This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the Eastern Colorado Health Care System VA medical center.

J. H. Olson-Madden (&) L. A. Brenner

B. B. Matarazzo G. M. Signoracci

Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 19, Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC),1055 Clermont Street, Denver, CO 80220, USAe-mail: [email protected]

J. H. Olson-Madden B. B. Matarazzo G. M. Signoracci

Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA

L. A. BrennerDepartments of Psychiatry, Neurology, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Denver, CO, USA

Keywords Traumatic brain injury Mental health

Assessment Intervention Implementation

Background

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC 2011)1.7 million Americans sustain a TBI annually. Regarding TBI within the state of Colorado, ndings from the Colorado Traumatic Brain Injury Surveillance System (B. Gabella, personal communication, 2009) suggest that on average there are 950 deaths, 5,000 hospitalizations...