Kate A Yurgil1, Royce E Clifford, Victoria B Risbrough, Mark A Geyer, Mingxiong Huang, Donald A Barkauskas, Jennifer J Vasterling, Dewleen G Baker. 1. VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, California (Drs Yurgil, Risbrough, Geyer, and Baker); VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego, California (Drs Yurgil, Risbrough, and Baker); Department of Psychological Sciences, Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana (Dr Yurgil); Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California (Dr Clifford); Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Clifford); Departments of Psychiatry (Drs Risbrough, Geyer, and Baker) and Radiology (Dr Huang), University of California San Diego; Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles (Dr Barkauskas); VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Vasterling); VA National Center for PTSD, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Vasterling); and Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Vasterling).
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether cause, severity, and frequency of traumatic brain injury (TBI) increase risk of postdeployment tinnitus when accounting for comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder. DESIGN: Self-report and clinical assessments were done before and after an "index" deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND MEASURES: Assessments took place on Marine Corps bases in southern California and the VA San Diego Medical Center. Participants were 1647 active-duty enlisted Marine and Navy servicemen who completed pre- and postdeployment assessments of the Marine Resiliency Study. The main outcome was the presence of tinnitus at 3 months postdeployment. RESULTS: Predeployment TBI increased the likelihood of new-onset postdeployment tinnitus (odds ratio [OR] = 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-2.70). Deployment-related TBIs increased the likelihood of postdeployment tinnitus (OR = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.19-5.89). Likelihood of new-onset postdeployment tinnitus was highest for those who were blast-exposed (OR = 2.93; 95% CI, 1.82-6.17), who reported moderate-severe TBI symptoms (OR = 2.22; 95% CI, 1.22-3.40), and who sustained multiple TBIs across study visits (OR = 2.27; 95% CI, 1.44-4.24). Posttraumatic stress disorder had no effect on tinnitus outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Participants who were blast-exposed, sustained multiple TBIs, and reported moderate-severe TBI symptoms were most at risk for new-onset tinnitus.
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether cause, severity, and frequency of traumatic brain injury (TBI) increase risk of postdeployment tinnitus when accounting for comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder. DESIGN: Self-report and clinical assessments were done before and after an "index" deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND MEASURES: Assessments took place on Marine Corps bases in southern California and the VA San Diego Medical Center. Participants were 1647 active-duty enlisted Marine and Navy servicemen who completed pre- and postdeployment assessments of the Marine Resiliency Study. The main outcome was the presence of tinnitus at 3 months postdeployment. RESULTS: Predeployment TBI increased the likelihood of new-onset postdeployment tinnitus (odds ratio [OR] = 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28-2.70). Deployment-related TBIs increased the likelihood of postdeployment tinnitus (OR = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.19-5.89). Likelihood of new-onset postdeployment tinnitus was highest for those who were blast-exposed (OR = 2.93; 95% CI, 1.82-6.17), who reported moderate-severe TBI symptoms (OR = 2.22; 95% CI, 1.22-3.40), and who sustained multiple TBIs across study visits (OR = 2.27; 95% CI, 1.44-4.24). Posttraumatic stress disorder had no effect on tinnitus outcome. CONCLUSIONS:Participants who were blast-exposed, sustained multiple TBIs, and reported moderate-severe TBI symptoms were most at risk for new-onset tinnitus.
Authors: Thomas J Vanasse; Crystal Franklin; Felipe S Salinas; Amy E Ramage; Vince D Calhoun; Paul C Robinson; Mitchell Kok; Alan L Peterson; Jim Mintz; Brett T Litz; Stacey Young-McCaughan; Patricia A Resick; Peter T Fox Journal: Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci Date: 2019-09-30 Impact factor: 3.436