Neurocognition, psychiatric symptoms, and lifetime homelessness among veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury

Elizabeth W Twamley; Chelsea C Hays; Ryan Van Patten; P Michelle Seewald; Henry J Orff; Colin A Depp; Donald C Olsen; Amy J Jak

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2018.11.049

Neurocognition, psychiatric symptoms, and lifetime homelessness among veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury

Psychiatry Res. 2019 Jan:271:167-170. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.11.049. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Authors

Elizabeth W Twamley¹, Chelsea C Hays², Ryan Van Patten³, P Michelle Seewald⁴, Henry J Orff⁵, Colin A Depp⁶, Donald C Olsen⁷, Amy J Jak⁸

Affiliations

¹ Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. Electronic address: etwamley@ucsd.edu.
² San Diego State University / University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92120, USA.
³ Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
⁴ Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
⁵ Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
⁶ Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.
⁷ California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, 10455 Pomerado Road, San Diego, CA 92131, USA.
⁸ Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA 92161, USA.

PMID: 30481694
DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.11.049

Abstract

We retrospectively investigated archival clinical data, including correlates of lifetime homelessness, in 503 Veterans with a history of traumatic brain injuries (86.5% mild) who completed neuropsychological evaluations and passed performance validity tests. The 471 never-homeless and 32 ever-homeless Veterans were compared on demographic factors, TBI severity, psychiatric diagnosis, subjective symptoms, and neuropsychological functioning. Homelessness history was significantly associated with unemployment, lower disability income, more severe depressive, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and postconcussive symptoms, and lower performances on two of fifteen neurocognitive tests. In a multiple logistic regression model, current unemployment and substance use disorder remained significantly associated with lifetime homelessness.

Keywords: Cognition; Homeless persons; Mental disorders.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

Adult
Afghan Campaign 2001-
Brain Injuries, Traumatic / psychology*
Female
Humans
Ill-Housed Persons / psychology
Ill-Housed Persons / statistics & numerical data*
Iraq War, 2003-2011
Male
Neuropsychological Tests
Occupational Diseases / psychology*
Post-Concussion Syndrome / epidemiology
Post-Concussion Syndrome / psychology
Retrospective Studies
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / epidemiology*
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology
Unemployment / psychology
Unemployment / statistics & numerical data
United States
Veterans / psychology*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding