Cognitive and Psychosocial Outcomes of Blast-Induced Traumatic Brain Injury

Blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI) is a common consequence of blast exposure, particularly in the military setting. BTBI is differentiated from other types of TBI because of its unique mechanism and pathophysiological features. For the purpose of this thesis, relevant literature from peer-reviewed journals was researched, taking into account neurophysiological and neuroimaging studies. Findings suggest that diffuse axonal injury, astrogliosis, and glial scarring are the main pathologies of this type of brain injury. Moreover, there is a risk of development of chronic traumatic encephalopathy after repetitive bTBI. The aftermath of bTBI is characterized by post-concussion syndrome and psychiatric comorbidities such as post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety pathologies. On the cognitive level patients with such brain pathology would deal with issues in memory, executive functions, attention, and processing speed domains. Main psychosocial challenges include substance use, socialization difficulties, anger management issues, stigma, and caregiver burden. The literature review accentuates the need for more studies in this field, especially involving human studies, since a lot of evidence comes only from animal studies. There are still gaps regarding the specific rehabilitation strategies and long-term consequences of individuals with bTBI. Such a complex condition requires addressing the issues in its diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.