TRACTS

Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders

Background

Traumatic Brain Injury is a very common injury in the OEF/OIF/OND conflicts, and TBI can lead to a number of physical, cognitive, and emotional problems for Veterans. Some of the symptoms that Veterans with TBI sometimes have include:

Problems with memory
Difficulty with concentration
Problems with attention

Many returning Veterans also experience symptoms related to mental health issues and/or PTSD. Symptoms of PTSD include:

Increased irritability/anger

Social isolation
Increased substance use or substance abuse/dependence
Problems with relationships and loved ones
Problems with work
Depression, sadness, guilt

About TRACTS

The Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS), originating in Boston, is a VA Center of Excellence committed to conducting the highest quality research on the unique problems faced by our nation’s Veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), and Operation New Dawn (OND).

TRACTS has built a repository of core elements, including medical and genetic information, structural and functional imaging, as well as, clinical and neuropsychological characterization to study how TBI impacts the evaluation and treatment of individuals who carry multiple physical and psychological diagnoses.

Our team tracks Veterans and assess how they are doing at different points. The Boston network site also assesses Active Duty Service members before they are deployed and tracks them after deployment to serve as a comparison group. By tracking military personnel, active and retired, and collecting comprehensive data of their functioning at different time points, we are able to study the combined effects of TBI and stress-disoders on brain structure and function, as well as, the effectiveness of therapy in treating these conditions.

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Our Mission

The mission of the Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders is to understand the modifying impact of traumatic brain injury on the effects of stress-related emotional disorders on brain structure and function so that we may maximize cognitive and behavioral recovery through the development of informed therapeutic techniques.

What makes TRACTS different?

TRACTS staff come from all parts of the hospital (from mental health, neuropsychology, neuroscience, and medicine) and our only focus is the OEF/OIF/OND Veteran population and understanding their unique characteristics and experiences. We have a large team at the Boston VA Healthcare System that works closely with Harvard University, as well as, a team in Houston at Michael E. DeBakey and Baylor College of Medicine.

Our studies have been carefully designed to understand the complex changes in the brain, thinking, and psychological well-being that result from TBI and PTSD. Many Veterans report feeling more “understood” by our TRACTS research team due to our proven dedication and respect for returning Veterans.

In contrast with traditional research, translational reseach means that our findings are published as they emerge so they can be translated into action much quicker.

Participation

TRACTS seeks individuals between the ages of 18-65 who were in the OEF/ OEF/ OND conflicts and deployed at least once to Iraq or Afghanistan and sustained a head injury and/or and a stress-disorder.

The study involves

Filling out questionnaires
A blood draw
a MRI scan of the brain
A clinical interview with a psychologist
A neuropsychological assessment (tests of memory, concentration, and learning).