Screening Tool Assesses Traumatic Brain Injury

A novel web-based screening tool for traumatic brain injury (TBI) or post-traumatic stress (PTS) helps people assess potential risk and avoid long-term complications.

Developed by researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM; New York, NY, USA) the Brain Injury Screening Questionnaire (BISQ) serves as an online tools that allow users to anonymously answer a series of questions--about 100 for the TBI screening, and 40 for the PTS--about whether they sustained a blow to the head in which they were dazed, unconscious, confused, or disoriented.

The questionnaire includes 25 symptoms that are sensitive and specific to TBI, when compared to individuals with other disabilities or no disability. The majority of these symptoms is cognitive, and includes sleep disturbances, irritability, memory disturbances, difficulties organizing daily tasks, and difficulty concentrating. At the end of the survey, participants receive a computer-generated report; those who are found to be at risk are advised to seek further evaluation from a qualified health care professional.

"Traumatic brain injury is under-diagnosed, and left untreated can have long-term cognitive, behavioral and physical effects,” said Prof. Wayne Gordon, PhD, an associate director of the department of rehabilitation medicine at MSSM. "If we can intervene and diagnose TBI early, then we can prevent further complications.”

According to a RAND Corporation (Santa Monica, CA, USA) study, 300,000 veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are estimated to be suffering from PTS, with the likelihood of it increasing from 10% to 30% between a service member's first and third deployments. TBI is equally prevalent, diagnosed in 41% of those being treated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center (Washington DC, USA) for blast-related physical injuries.

Related Links:
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
RAND Corporation