A Review of the Co-Occurrence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) often co-occur. This review describes the overlap between PTSD and TBI with special emphasis on mild TBI (mTBI) by defining these two conditions and their differential diagnosis. The impact of mTBI on PTSD is outlined and vice versa. The various psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic treatment interventions that could provide a symptomatic relief for both conditions are summarized with the hope that by implementing these interventions, individuals afflicted by these potentially very disabling conditions will experience improved functioning and quality of life.