Can Simple Blood Tests Help Screen for PTSD and TBI in Veterans?

What you need to know

• Routine blood tests available in most medical settings may help screen for PTSD and traumatic brain injury (TBI) in veterans
• Blood markers related to blood sugar control and inflammation appear most useful for identifying these conditions
• This approach could provide an objective screening tool to complement existing diagnostic methods

The Challenge of Diagnosing PTSD and TBI

When veterans return from combat zones, they may struggle with invisible wounds like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Currently, diagnosing these conditions relies heavily on clinical interviews and self-reported symptoms. This can be challenging because some veterans may underreport symptoms due to stigma, while others might overreport them when seeking compensation. Additionally, many veterans first seek help through primary care rather than mental health specialists.

A New Approach Using Routine Blood Tests

Researchers examined whether standard blood tests - the kind you might get during an annual physical - could help identify veterans with PTSD and TBI. They analyzed blood test results from 475 male veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan, including both healthy veterans and those diagnosed with PTSD, TBI, or both conditions.

Key Findings

The study found that certain patterns in routine blood tests could help distinguish between:

• Veterans with PTSD versus healthy veterans
• Veterans with TBI versus healthy veterans
• Veterans with both PTSD and TBI versus healthy veterans
• Veterans with PTSD versus those with TBI

The most important blood markers were related to:

• Blood sugar control (glucose, insulin, HbA1c)
• Inflammation (C-reactive protein, white blood cells)
• Liver function
• Various minerals and proteins in the blood

Understanding the Body’s Response

These findings suggest that PTSD and TBI affect multiple systems in the body. For example, PTSD appears to impact how the body processes sugar, potentially increasing the risk of pre-diabetes. Both conditions also seem to trigger inflammation throughout the body. This helps explain why veterans with these conditions may experience physical health problems alongside their mental health symptoms.

What This Means for You

If you’re a veteran or care for veterans, these findings suggest that:

• Regular blood tests might help identify PTSD and TBI earlier
• Physical health and mental health are closely connected
• Taking care of both physical and mental health is important
• Simple screening tools could make it easier to seek help
• Working with both primary care and mental health providers may be beneficial

Conclusions

• Routine blood tests show promise as an objective screening tool for PTSD and TBI in veterans
• This approach could complement existing diagnostic methods and make screening more accessible
• The findings highlight the deep connection between mental health conditions and physical health