Telepharmacy Robotic Medicine Delivery Unit "TRMDU" Assessment
Traumatic Brain InjuryPosttraumatic Stress Disorders3 moreThe objective of this study is to evaluate whether use of TRMDU in addition to medication review leads to improved outcomes and reduced health care costs for patients when compared with medication review alone. The study will be conducted in patients assigned to Department of Defense (DOD) Warrior Transition Units (WTU's), similar DOD units, and VA polytrauma centers.
Prospective Study of Veteran Health in Previously Deployed Soldiers
Combat DisordersBackground: Previous deployments like that to the Persian Gulf in 1991 produced veterans with post-deployment symptom-based health problems with no medical explanation. This was termed Gulf War illness or medically unexplained illness (MUI). If previous wars are any indication, some soldiers currently deployed to hostile areas also will return home with unexplained symptom-based illnesses. However, when this study began there was virtually no pre-war, prospective data on risk and resilience factors associated with MUI. This study is attempting to fill that gap. Objectives: Our goals are to: (a) determine pre- and immediate post-deployment factors predicting later MUI and poor functional status, (b) improve previous methodological problems (e.g., selection bias, recall bias and lack of baseline controls) in studies of MUI, and (c) relate pre-deployment risk factors (e.g., personality, stressor reactivity) and resilience factors (e.g., coping style, social support) to post-deployment functional status.
Effects of Omega-3 EPA/DHA for Soldiers at Risk for Mood Disorders
Mood DisordersDepression2 moreStress-related disorders are among the most prevalent and expensive medical consequences of participation in military operations. Omega-3 fatty acids EPA/DHA derived from fish oil are known to benefit both neuronal development in the young, and cognition and mood in various populations. It is possible that soldiers receiving Omega-3 EPA/DHA will exhibit significantly higher cognitive performance, better affect/mood state, and less combat stress symptomatology compared to the placebo after 12 weeks of supplementation. A goal would be to reduce the prevalence of combat stress injuries in military personnel.
Vietnam Era Health Retrospective Observational Study
AgingCombat DisordersThe Vietnam Era Health Retrospective Observational Study (VE-HEROeS) is a national study on the health and well-being of Vietnam Veterans, including Blue Water Navy Veterans, as well as Veterans who served elsewhere during the Vietnam Era (1961-1975), and similarly aged U.S. residents who never served in the military. The investigators will invite approximately 43,000 Vietnam and Vietnam Era Veterans, and approximately 11,000 members of the general U.S. population to participate in VE-HEROeS. These individuals are scientifically selected to participate; the study is not able to accept volunteers. All participants in VE-HEROeS will be asked to fill out a questionnaire on their military service, general health, age-related conditions, health care use, and the health experiences of their children and grandchildren. A smaller group will be asked to provide the investigators with access to some of their medical records. Topics of special focus for the study include cognition, hepatitis C infection, and neurologic conditions.