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VA Cooperative Studies Program (CSP)

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CSP #566 - Neuropsychological and Mental Outcomes of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)

What is CSP #566

This is a research project examining possible lasting health effects of the Iraq War. In this study, we follow up with the US Army soldiers who took part in the Neurocognition Deployment Health Study (NDHS), also called "Prospective Assessment of Neurocognition in Future Gulf-deployed and Gulf-nondeployed Military Personnel: A Pilot Study."

The NDHS was started in February 2003 by the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs in response to suggestions of Veterans from previous military conflicts to track health both before and after deployment. This project was one of the first major efforts to enroll participants before deployment, and 1,595 Army Soldiers made history by being part of this effort.

With the CSP #566 follow-up study, funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, we plan to find out more about any enduring effects of war on mood and stress symptoms, thinking and reaction skills, and different aspects of day to day life, such as work and daily activities. Results from previous participation in the NDHS will be compared to the new information obtained from CSP #566.

What was involved?

The study had two parts: (1) a survey that was completed by mail and over the telephone; and (2) an in-person assessment. NDHS participants who deployed to Iraq were invited to participate in the survey. The telephone interview took about 2 to 2.5 hours and asked questions about mood and stress symptoms, head injuries, and other aspects of the deployment experience. This part of the study also involved completing questionnaires that ask about basic personal history (such as age, health, military status, gender, and combat injury history), work, daily activities, mood, stress symptoms, and stressful experiences. The questionnaire took about 20 to 30 minutes and was then returned by mail to the CSP Coordinating Center.

A subset of 200 participants were also invited to complete some of the thinking and reaction time tasks that were done as part of previous NDHS participation. These tasks were given on a computer or using paper and pencil. Basic health measures such as height, weight, blood pressure, heart rate, and waist size were also collected during this meeting. Potential participants can chose to complete the in-person assessment at one of the two study sites (Seattle or Boston), or in a private setting in their community (e.g., a hotel conference room). Altogether, this part of the study took about 120 minutes to 140 minutes to complete.

Clinical Epidemiology Research Center (CERC)

http://www.cerc.research.va.gov/

West Haven VA Connecticut Healthcare System
950 Campbell Avenue
West Haven, CT 06516
(203) 937-4916

CERC Director: Mihaela Aslan, PhD
CSP #566 Biostatistician: Mihaela Aslan, PhD
CSP #566 Project Manager: Patricia Crutchfield

Chair's Office

Chair: Jennifer J. Vasterling, PhD
Site Investigator: Brian Marx, PhD

Study related links

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