News
Is it a Brain Injury or Isn’t It?
Recently a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine has caused something of a furor in brain injury circles. In “Care of War Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury — Flawed Perspectives,” the authors argue that vets are being misdiagnosed with mild brain injury.
While the article makes strong attempts to be scientifically grounded, the entire conundrum of diagnosing a mild brain injury reveals what nobody seems to be discussing: the current classifications for brain injury don’t apply any more. Our understanding of brain injury suggest a much more complex process is at work, and we need a new kind of perspective in order to address it.
While others will undoubtedly grapple with the dilemma of whether MTBI is overdiagnosed or not, brain injury professionals should be calling for more effective screening measures AND a broader understanding of brain injury.
