Office of Research & Development

Study: Veterans with multiple brain injuries twice as likely to consider suicide, compared with those with one or none

Mike Richman of VA Research Communications interviews Dr. Robert Shura, neuropsychologist at the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in North Carolina. Shura led a study that found that Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans with a history of multiple traumatic brain injuries—versus none—are at much greater risk for considering suicide. The study said Veterans in this cohort are about twice as likely to report recent suicidal ideation, which the study defines as suicidal thoughts over the past week—compared with Vets with one TBI or none at all. Traumatic brain injury is the signature injury from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Suicide prevention is VA’s top clinical priority).

(02-15-2019)

Listen (13:02); Transcript