Military Personnel: Effects of Combat Injuries, Limb Loss, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Psychosocial Challenges
By
Daniel Dyball
Cheryl R. Z. See
Alexander N. Bennett
Susie Schofield
Grace Blissitt
Lydia Orton
Harriet Kemp
Christopher J. Boos
Anthony M. J. Bull
David J. Sharp
Neil S. N. Graham
Simon Wessely
Howard Burdett
Nicola T. Fear
October 6, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Military Personnel: Effects of Combat Injuries, Limb Loss, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Psychosocial Challenges
At a Glance
Category Detail
Condition Combat Injuries and Traumatic Brain Injury Key Mechanisms Physical injuries leading to limb loss and neurologic conditions affecting mental health. Target Population UK military personnel deployed to Afghanistan from 2003 to 2014. Care Setting Military rehabilitation and trauma care.
Key Highlights
Injured personnel report poorer mental health outcomes compared to uninjured counterparts. Limb loss does not correlate with increased mental health issues compared to uninjured personnel. Traumatic brain injury severity may influence mental health outcomes. The ADVANCE cohort study includes 579 injured and 566 uninjured personnel. Psychosocial outcomes assessed include alcohol misuse, CMDs, PTSD, and mental health multimorbidity. Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Utilize psychometrically validated self-report questionnaires for assessing mental health outcomes. Management
Implement tailored rehabilitation strategies for personnel with combat injuries. Monitoring & Follow-up
Regular follow-up assessments to evaluate long-term psychosocial impacts. Risks
Increased risk of CMDs and PTSD associated with TBI and physical combat injuries. Patient & Prescribing Data
UK Armed Forces personnel with combat injuries.
Focus on addressing both physical and psychosocial rehabilitation needs.
Clinical Best Practices
Follow STROBE guidelines for cohort studies. Ensure informed consent and ethical approval for research participation. Utilize the Mayo Head Injury Classification System for TBI assessment. Related Resources & Content
