Expanding Access to mTBI Treatment for Veterans and Service Members With Co-occurring Substance Use

Expanding Access to mTBI Treatment for Veterans and Service Members With Co-occurring Substance Use

The purpose of this research is to determine whether military veterans and service members with mild traumatic brain injury with and without co-occurring substance use can complete and benefit from integrated interdisciplinary care individualized to their symptoms, goals, and needs.

Participants will complete surveys about substance use and other symptoms at the beginning and end of treatment in an intensive outpatient program and 6 months after discharge.

This pragmatic clinical trial will (1) assess treatment retention and treatment outcomes at the completion of interdisciplinary intensive outpatient program (IOP) and at a 6-month follow-up comparing service members and veterans (SM/Vs) with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) + substance use (SU) and a TBI -control group; and (2) assess SU-related outcomes at the end of IOP treatment and durability of SU outcomes at 6-months follow-up among SM/Vs with co-occurring SU. Analyses of these key treatment outcomes along with input from lived experience consultants and other key stakeholders, will be used to refine and disseminate a scalable approach to treating individuals with mTBI and co-occurring SU.

Inclusion Criteria:

• At least 18 years of age
• US military service member or veteran
• Diagnosis of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and/or repetitive head impact/blast exposures
• Participating in the SHARE Military Initiative intensive outpatient program

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of brain injury other than mTBI or progressive neurological disorder
• Active psychosis
• Not able to provide consent