Study finds irritability long after concussions in veterans is linked to PTSD, chronic pain and hearing difficulties
New research from the CU Anschutz Marcus Institute for Brain Health shows that irritability is strongly associated with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, chronic pain and difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments among military veterans with chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), or concussion.
A study from the CU Anschutz Marcus Institute for Brain Health reveals that irritability experienced by military veterans long after concussions is strongly linked to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, chronic pain, and difficulties understanding speech in noisy environments. The research, published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, indicates that irritability in post-concussion veterans may result from a combination of brain function changes, emotional health issues, and sensory processing problems rather than a single psychological cause.
Lead investigator Jeffrey Hebert, Ph.D., PT, notes that irritability observed years after multiple concussions is not merely an emotionally driven reaction. Instead, it reflects ongoing challenges in managing psychological and sensory system factors that can persist for years following injury. The study involved 124 military veterans, with 61 having chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and 63 without any history of brain injury.
Veterans with chronic mTBI exhibited higher levels of irritability, more severe PTSD symptoms, greater chronic pain, worse balance, and increased difficulty comprehending speech in noisy settings compared to those without brain injury.
The findings suggest that PTSD symptoms have the strongest association with irritability, followed by chronic pain. Additionally, difficulty understanding speech in challenging listening environments independently contributes to irritability, highlighting the role of sensory strain in emotional regulation. Over time, the increased mental effort required to comprehend speech in noisy environments can lead to stress tolerance reduction and emotional overload, resulting in irritability.
The study also underscores the challenges faced by individuals with chronic mTBI in everyday environments such as restaurants, social gatherings, and crowded public spaces, where sensory overload may further exacerbate irritability. Overall, the research emphasizes that irritability after concussion is a multifactorial issue involving multiple interacting systems in the brain and body, rather than a single psychological cause.
Addressing irritability in post-concussion veterans may require a comprehensive approach that considers PTSD symptoms, chronic pain, and sensory processing difficulties together. Future research aims to explore whether improvements in functional hearing and sensory processing could alleviate irritability and enhance the quality of life for individuals after concussion.
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