Suicide Rates in US military: possible link to TBI

[WillBrink]

Important reading for those who experienced TBI and the after effects:


Are multiple concussions driving suicides in the military?

"The U.S. military has faced two epidemics over the last decade of war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

One is suicide. The annual rate of military personnel taking their own lives has doubled to about 20 per 100,000. That translated to a record 324 suicides in the Army last year.

The other is concussion, also known as mild traumatic brain injury, or TBI. The proliferation of roadside bombs has subjected thousands of troops to brain-rattling explosions.

Several studies have suggested a link between the two epidemics — that service members who suffered concussions are at greater risk for suicide.

A paper published Wednesday in the journal JAMA Psychiatry helps illuminate the nature of that relationship. Researchers found that military personnel in Iraq who suffered multiple concussions were far more prone to suicidal thoughts than those who sustained just one such injury or never had a concussion.

And by controlling for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder — well-known risk factors for suicide — the study moves closer to establishing TBI as a significant factor in suicides."

Prior info I posted regarding hormone dysfunction and TBI treated by
a A Dr. Mark L. Gordon HERE:

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Well for reference if it helps I had 5 or 6 concussions in the service and one TBI with bleeding and cracks etc... and I have never even thought about ending it, sure shit sucks sometimes. I think about how messed up everybody is all the time and how it relates to my experiences and of the guys I know who have done it, tried it, thought about it, I knew them long enough to say that they had other issues before. But that's just my experience.

[WillBrink]

Well for reference if it helps I had 5 or 6 concussions in the service and one TBI with bleeding and cracks etc... and I have never even thought about ending it, sure shit sucks sometimes. I think about how messed up everybody is all the time and how it relates to my experiences and of the guys I know who have done it, tried it, thought about it, I knew them long enough to say that they had other issues before. But that's just my experience.

Have you experienced any long term effects from the TBI's to date you - and or your doc - attribute to the TBI's?

Not my area of expertise, just trying to pass along possibly helpful info.

[gun71530]

I suffered numerous concussions while in the Army as an infantryman. I was received a TBI diagnosis following my last deployment in 2009. Which led to medical retirement in my case, I still have what they call residual effects due to the TBI, frequent migraines, trouble sleeping, etc. Sadly, I have had several friends commit suicide, for me I have never considered it an option. It's a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

[WillBrink]

I suffered numerous concussions while in the Army as an infantryman. I was received a TBI diagnosis following my last deployment in 2009. Which led to medical retirement in my case, I still have what they call residual effects due to the TBI, frequent migraines, trouble sleeping, etc. Sadly, I have had several friends commit suicide, for me I have never considered it an option. It's a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

Take a look at some prior TBI related info I put up:

https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread...&highlight=TBI

That doc is working with a number of current and ex SOF and last I talked to him, real success with TBI via treatments based on his hypothesis. Perhaps you are a candidate, don't know, but maybe worth following up on.

[SteveS]

What about the Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors doctors are prescribing like candy on Halloween?

[WillBrink]

What about the Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors doctors are prescribing like candy on Halloween?

SSRI's can very helpful for some people, and like all drugs, helpful for some, less so for others, and (potentially) dangerous to a small subset of users.

I'd agree, generally over prescribed but they do have legit clinical benefits for those who need them and respond well to them.

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

Have you experienced any long term effects from the TBI's to date you - and or your doc - attribute to the TBI's?

Not my area of expertise, just trying to pass along possibly helpful info.

Sorry Will never saw this pop back up. I do have long term effects, the injury happened in 2003. My sense of smell is at about 15%. I cant say or have not tried to link the injury to any other issues. I took part in a VA study with a psychiatrist of specialized in neurological disorders, the results have not been made public to my knowledge.

[Vic303]

FWIW, concussion-related TBI is what the NFL is currently being sued over by the players/former players/estates of players. A number of higher profile former NFL players have suicided in recent years.

I wonder if there is a corresponding increase in suicide amongst boxers?

[WillBrink]

FWIW, concussion-related TBI is what the NFL is currently being sued over by the players/former players/estates of players. A number of higher profile former NFL players have suicided in recent years.

I wonder if there is a corresponding increase in suicide amongst boxers?

It clearly needs more study before any true cause and effect can be established, but I don't think it should be a long stretch to conclude multiple impact trauma to the brain may have larger and longer lasting effects than once believed.