: Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is the signature injury of the current military conflicts: Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND). In Veterans of these conflicts, mTBI commonly co-occurs with mental health disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Hazardous alcohol use or probable alcohol use disorder (AUD) is also extremely prevalent in Veterans. The presence of an AUD has further negative impact on rehabilitation effectiveness for our Veterans with TBI. Craving, or the urge to consume a substance, is a critical characteristic of AUD. Alcohol craving negatively impacts rehabilitation and is associated with relapse in the alcohol-withdrawn addict. No studies to date have examined the role of alcohol craving in Veterans with co-occurring mTBI, PTSD and AUD (mTBI+PTSD+AUD). Therefore, the objectives of the current CDA II application are to characterize alcohol craving, develop a better understanding of the mechanism underlying alcohol craving, and develop a novel treatment intervention for alcohol craving reduction. In order to do so, OEF/OIF/OND Veterans will be recruited and classified into one of two groups based on self-report and neuropsychological assessments: 1) asymptomatic combat control Veterans with probable AUD (AUD alone) and 2) Veterans with mTBI+PTSD+AUD. First, alcohol craving and excessive alcohol use in these two groups will be compared. This will be done by conducting objective measures of alcohol use (e.g., urine and breath alcohol concentration tests), self-reports of alcohol use, and alcohol craving. Second, the neurophysiological mechanisms of alcohol craving will be examined in order to develop a novel treatment intervention for craving reduction. To do so, Veterans will participate in a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) protocol where brain activation will be measured in response to viewing images relating to alcohol compared to neutral images. Advanced neuroimaging procedures to determine the structural integrity of white matter fibers in the brain and to determine spontaneous activity in neuronal networks, a process called functional connectivity analysis, will also take place. The neuroimaging data will be evaluated collectively to elucidate the mechanism underlying alcohol craving and, along with the literature, these data will be used to develop a protocol for the neurotherapeutic intervention repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Third, the safety, feasibility, and the immediate effect of a single rTMS session on alcohol cravings along with neural activity and connectivity in Veterans with mTBI+PTSD+AUD will be examined. Veterans will complete neuroimaging, alcohol craving, and alcohol use measures as described above pre- and post-rTMS. Self-report alcohol craving will also be assessed at one day, one week, and one month post-rTMS via phone interview. It is expected that this innovative project will contribute a missing, fundamental element to our base knowledge, without which alcohol craving in Veterans with mTBI+PTSD+AUD cannot be understood. The acquisition of such knowledge is critical to the development of improved therapeutic strategies for alcohol addiction in Veterans with co-occurring mTBI and PTSD.

Public Health Relevance

The current CDA II proposal addresses specific research interest areas to the VA including chronic diseases, psychiatric disorders, neurological dysfunction, brain injury and rehabilitation outcomes. Current military conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have led to over 200,000 reported cases of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Among Veterans, mTBI commonly co-occurs with chronic, psychiatric conditions including alcohol use disorder (AUD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In particular, AUD negatively affects rehabilitation outcomes in Veterans. Dr. Herrold's potential, coupled with commitment and passion for investigating mTBI, PTSD, and AUD, make this CDA II application of great importance to Veteran health. Specifically, the completion of this CDA II will provide essential knowledge that can be incorporated into therapeutic strategies targeted to reduce alcohol craving and subsequent relapse in Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with co-occurring mTBI, PTSD, and AUD.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Type
Veterans Administration (IK2)
Project #
5IK2RX000949-02
Application #
9001835
Study Section
Career Development Program - Panel I (RRD8)
Project Start
2014-05-01
Project End
2019-04-30
Budget Start
2015-05-01
Budget End
2016-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Edward Hines Jr VA Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
067445429
City
Hines
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60141
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Sullivan, Emily Galassi; Guernon, Ann; Blabas, Brett et al. (2018) Familiar auditory sensory training in chronic traumatic brain injury: a case study. Disabil Rehabil 40:945-951
Gallagher, Virginia; Kramer, Natalie; Abbott, Kristin et al. (2018) The Effects of Sex Differences and Hormonal Contraception on Outcomes after Collegiate Sports-Related Concussion. J Neurotrauma 35:1242-1247
Herrold, Amy A; Pape, Theresa L-B; Li, Xue et al. (2017) Association Between Alcohol Craving and Health-Related Quality of Life Among Veterans With Co-occurring Conditions. Mil Med 182:e1712-e1717
Pape, Theresa Louise-Bender; Herrold, Amy A; Smith, Bridget et al. (2016) Algorithm for Symptom Attribution and Classification Following Possible Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. J Head Trauma Rehabil 31:E10-E22
Baldassarre, Megan; Smith, Bridget; Harp, Jordan et al. (2015) Exploring the Relationship Between Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Exposure and the Presence and Severity of Postconcussive Symptoms Among Veterans Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. PM R 7:845-858
Herrold, Amy A; Pape, Theresa Louise-Bender; Guernon, Ann et al. (2014) Prescribing multiple neurostimulants during rehabilitation for severe brain injury. ScientificWorldJournal 2014:964578
Herrold, Amy A; Kletzel, Sandra L; Harton, Brett C et al. (2014) Transcranial magnetic stimulation: potential treatment for co-occurring alcohol, traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorders. Neural Regen Res 9:1712-30
Herrold, Amy A; Jordan, Neil; High, Walter M et al. (2014) Alcohol use and craving among Veterans with mental health disorders and mild traumatic brain injury. J Rehabil Res Dev 51:1397-410