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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is widely recognised as a serious consequence of combat exposure, affecting around 9% of veterans from modern conflicts. Symptoms such as anxiety, intrusive thoughts and hyper-vigilance can be life-altering, often leading to difficulties in work, relationships and mental health.
However, emerging research suggests that some veterans diagnosed with PTSD may actually be living with an undiagnosed neurological condition: blast-related mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI). This condition, caused by repeated exposure to blast overpressure during military service, can lead to subtle yet significant brain damage. Unlike visible injuries, these changes do not appear on standard scans, meaning many individuals are misdiagnosed or left untreated for years.
Dr Steve Allder, Consultant Neurologist at Re:Cognition Health, recently spoke on ITV about this critical issue. He highlighted that while PTSD and mTBI share overlapping symptoms, including mood changes, memory loss and headaches, they require different approaches to diagnosis and treatment. Advanced imaging and innovative diagnostic algorithms are now helping to identify previously undetectable brain damage, paving the way for more accurate care pathways.
Dr Allder emphasises the urgency of coordinated action: “These veterans present with the same complex symptoms time and again. Without ownership of this issue, patients and families will continue to feel abandoned.”
As research and technology advance, understanding the interplay between psychological trauma and neurological injury is vital, not only for accurate diagnosis but for improving outcomes for those who have served.
For consultations with Dr Allder please contact: 020 3355 3536.
