Needs and concerns of male combat Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury. (33/35)

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has emerged as a major cause of morbidity among U.S. servicemembers who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even mild TBI (mTBI) can result in cognitive impairments that can affect the community reintegration of Veterans postdeployment. The purpose of this study was to explore the needs and concerns of combat Veterans with mTBI to provide support for an mTBI-specific conceptual model (Conceptual Model in the Context of mTBI) derived from Ferrans et al.'s health-related quality of life model and the TBI literature. Content analysis of qualitative interview data was conducted using a thematic matrix with a predetermined code list. Data saturation was achieved after interviews with eight male Veterans. Six key categories and predominant themes emerged: cognitive impairments, physical symptoms, emotions and behaviors, instrumental activities of daily living, interpersonal interactions, and community reintegration. Findings provide preliminary support for a new, context-specific conceptual model that has the potential to identify areas for future interventions to enhance community reintegration of combat Veterans with mTBI.  (+info)

Fibromylagia. (34/35)

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia is a common and debilitating condition. The cardinal feature of fibromyalgia is musculoskeletal pain, usually accompanied by other problems, such as fatigue, sleep disturbance and cognitive difficulties. Fibromyalgia commonly coexists with other chronic illnesses and can result in poorer outcomes if untreated. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this review is to discuss when fibromyalgia should be considered as a diagnosis, how it is diagnosed, the current understanding of the pathophysiology of fibromyalgia and the management strategies available. DISCUSSION: The features of fibromyalgia are similar to those of many other chronic illnesses, sometimes resulting in diagnostic confusion. Fibromyalgia can co-exist with other disorders and it is important to consider the possibility of fibromyalgia contributing to symptoms in any chronically ill patient.  (+info)

Pediatric insomnia: clinical, diagnosis, and treatment. (35/35)

Pediatric insomnia is an extrinsic sleep disorder subdivided into two categories: behavioral insomnia and insomnia related to medical, neurological, and psychiatric diseases. This review will cover several types of insomnia, comorbidities and specific pediatric therapies according to clinical characteristics and age. Behavioral insomnia should be differentiated from pediatric insomnia due to medical conditions, mostly occurring during the first year of life. Multiple night awakenings and diurnal hypersomnolence are strong indicators of insomnia due to medical conditions. Insomnia during adolescence and pediatric insomnia associated with psychiatric comorbidity, cognitive disabilities and epilepsy, will be discussed in terms of diagnosis, clinical features and implications for treatment.  (+info)