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Military Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative - MTBI2

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Military Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative - MTBI2

MTBI2 is federal research organization on a mission to lessen the impact TBIs have on service members. Following, shares, likes & links ≠ endorsement.

The Military Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (MTBI2) is a joint federal research organization on a mission to lessen the destructive effects TBIs have on U.S. service members.

05/28/2026

Military caregivers often report feeling a lack of emotional, financial & even social support.

But with so many responsibilities on their plate, it can be hard to find help — so we compiled a list of resources & supports.

In addition to branch-specific resources for military caregivers, we wanted to highlight a variety of programs & support systems focused on caregiver mental health care. You can find links to all the websites in the comments.

Please note — this list is just a starting point.

It is not exhaustive & it does not include every single caregiver mental health support program that exists. We are also not endorsing any of these resources.

But caregivers deserve the same kind of care & dedication that they show to our military personnel & veterans. They matter beyond just the care that they provide. They deserve the same kind of support & assistance as everyone else.

➡️ Swipe to find our list of resources & let us know if there are any other great centers helping military caregivers in our comments!

05/27/2026

How do we care for those who care for our service members? We have a few ideas.

In a 2024 RAND Corporation report, researchers listed several evidence-based suggestions to help military caregivers’ burdens & give them the support they need.

These suggestions include:
✅ Increase access to mental health & substance use treatment

✅ More opportunities for financial support

✅ Expand & promote home health care options & support

✅ Encourage health teams to involve caregivers more

✅ Tailor caregiver support systems to their unique needs

While these suggestions may help improve conditions & lessen stress for caregivers, they won't magically solve every problem.

We need to continue to listen to military caregivers & understand their needs, so they receive the support needed to continue giving so much.

You can learn more about the best ways to improve support for military caregivers here: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RBA3212-1.html

📸: U.S. Army photo by Joshua Taeckens

05/26/2026

Caregivers are there for patients no matter what. But that dedication often takes a toll on their mental health.

A 2024 RAND Corporation report found that 43% caregivers of post-9/11 vets (aged 60 & under) met the criteria for depression — 4x higher than non-caregivers.

Additionally, 36% of military caregivers said they needed mental health care but did not seek it. Most stated that they "didn't have the time for treatment.”

Caregivers also reported feeling a lack of societal & emotional support.

These stresses are often compounded by financial burdens, relationship strains & difficulties balancing work & caregiving responsibilities. All of this increases the risk of caregiver anxiety, burnout & insomnia.

But there is good news: Understanding the stressors military caregivers face illuminates ways to provide them with the care & resources they need.

The more we support caregivers, the better they will care for service members before, during & after recovery.

05/21/2026

During a Feb 2026 conversation with the WarDocs Podcast David F. Tate, PhD, discussed results from a 2024 study where he & his team found persistent brain changes in service members & veterans who experienced mTBI.

Traditional imaging did not detect these changes, but when researchers looked at specific clinical data — including clinical characteristics and TBI history — they found evidence of physical changes in brain matter.

"This work validates [their] lived experiences,” Tate said.

This study’s results show how mTBIs can have long-term impacts on service members' health & helps dispel the idea that these injuries are "invisible."

"I think it points toward a more precise, personalized approach to studying & ultimately treating mild TBI," Tate explained.

He also noted that the changes in brain matter were only found by focusing on the "clinical data & clinical features" of the injuries. Because mTBIs are "heterogenous," simply looking at generalized characteristics can result in docs & researchers overseeing crucial information.

Watch the full conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgZXEkZSt2o

05/19/2026

Finding a new path towards healing.

Our teammate, Dr. Michael Roy, & his team recently published an article about their landmark study on Reconsolidation of Traumatic Memories (RTM) & potential efficacy at easing symptoms of post-traumatic stress in military personnel.

RTM involves a regimented protocol where patients replay their trauma as a "movie." After "replaying" the trauma with some emotional distance, they work with experts to rework & replace it with something less upsetting. It can be less painful & intense than traditional PTS therapy.

Dr. Roy's study compared RTM to traditional prolonged exposure therapy (PTE) & found that patients responded faster & were inclined to address multiple traumatic events.

Findings also suggested that RTM was helpful for those experiencing PTS alongside other mental health issues.

Though there was no significant difference between RTM & PE on conventional CAPS-5 assessments, the findings do indicate the need for new therapeutic options for patients experiencing PTS symptoms.

Mental health care is not one-size-fits-all.

Military personnel deserve to be able to find the therapy that is most effective & beneficial for them. Studies like this highlight the importance of developing & testing various options that could help them live a happy, full life.

Read the full article: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jts.70067

📸 Air Force Airman 1st Class Kiora Brooks

05/18/2026

Feeling anxious? Having trouble sleeping?

These symptoms could concussion-related — or they could point to a mental health condition.

Brain injuries can have neurological & psychological effects & it’s not always easy to tell what’s driving your symptoms.

Experiencing a concussion doesn't mean you will develop a mental health condition. However, research shows concussions can increase risk for depression, anxiety & posttraumatic stress.

By better understanding which symptoms overlap, and which ones do not, clinicians can develop more personalized TBI treatment plans that support both physical & mental health.

The right care can help address the whole person — brain, body & mind.

05/15/2026

When it comes to concussion treatment, timing is everything.

A 2022 study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research found that patients who received treatment — including medicine & rehab — within 1 week of injury had a significantly lower risk of anxiety & depression than those who were treated later.

The lowered risks were also consistent across all age groups who received concussion treatment immediately.

These findings suggest that prompt treatment is important for both physical recovery & for improving long-term mental health outcomes among concussion patients.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), approximately 1 in 5 people who have experienced a concussion also experienced anxiety & depression symptoms in the months following their injury.

Fast, accurate treatments could reduce those rates, leading to a better recovery & quality of life.

You can read the full article here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022395625003073

📸: Army 1st Lt. Drew Adams

05/14/2026

Sometimes the 1st step is the hardest.

Approximately 60% to 70% of service members who experience mental health difficulties do not seek mental health services. Many things might keep them from seeking help, but 1 of the biggest is the stigma around mental health in the military.

Per the Military Health System, some of the most common reasons include:

⭕ A desire to handle things on their own
⭕ Concerns about a negative reaction from their community
⭕ Lack of trust in providers & the medical system
⭕ Privacy concerns
⭕ Worries about negative career ramifications

In addition, service members' busy schedules & intense job duties can also create structural barriers to them receiving mental health care.

Understanding the barriers that keep service members from receiving mental health care can allow both providers & Command to find ways to overcome them & give military personnel the support they need.

Getting help early can prevent mental health symptoms from worsening & help military personnel maintain mental strength & readiness.

Learn more here: https://health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Centers-of-Excellence/Psychological-Health-Center-of-Excellence/Psychological-Health-Readiness/Barriers-to-Care

📊: Courtesy Psychological Health Center of Excellence

05/12/2026

Every brain is different — and MTBI2 wants to better understand each one.

Our teammate, Dr. Michael Roy, is studying how blast overpressure exposure affects brain function in 50 male & 50 female active-duty explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians across all service branches.

The study is one of the 1st of its kind to examine blast overpressure exposure within the female EOD community.

“All the studies I’ve done and other people have done, with Navy SEALs, Army Rangers – they’re all male,” Dr. Roy said. “There’s reason to believe that there may be a difference in how women are impacted compared to men.”

Female service members are underrepresented in military medical research. During , we’re not only calling attention to that knowledge gap — we’re working to help close it.

Learn more about this study & our research on blast overpressure exposure: https://mtbi2.usuhs.edu/research/operational-research

05/08/2026

Does a crisp soda in the afternoon help turn your day around? There's a reason for that.

Caffeine can temporarily help improve mental performance, including focus, attention & alertness. For the biggest boost, drink it about 30-60 mins before you need to lock in.

Of course, caffeine *is* a stimulant, so it's important to be careful about how much you consume on a daily basis.

Per our friends Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS), it's best to not consume more than 200mg of caffeine at once — and to avoid negative side effects, try to stay under 600mg per day.

Docs also recommend avoiding caffeine for at least 6 hours before bedtime, so that it doesn't have a negative impact on your sleep.

Learn more about how to — safely! — use caffeine to improve performance: https://www.opss.org/article/caffeine-performance

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4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, MD
20814

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday	9am - 5:30pm
Thursday	9am - 5:30pm
Friday	9am - 5:30pm

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+18558242676

Website

http://mtbi2.usuhs.edu/

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