Wednesday, March 13, 2019
12:00pm - 1:30pm Eastern time
1.5 CE Credits
Presented by:

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Jennifer J. Vasterling, Ph.D.
Chief of Psychology, VA Boston Healthcare System
Professor of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine
Affiliated Investigator, Behavioral Science Division of the National Center for PTSD |
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Laura J. Grande, Ph.D.
Director of Clinical Neuropsychology, Psychology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine
Adjunct Instructor of Psychology (Psychiatry), Harvard Medical School
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Many events that lead to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are also psychologically traumatic or occur in the broader context of ongoing psychological trauma. In such cases, individuals may experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This presentation focuses on the clinical complexities of co-occurring mTBI and PTSD. The presentation will cover the epidemiology of PTSD following TBI; cognitive, neural, psychological, and contextual mechanisms that may complicate recovery; the clinical presentation of mTBI and PTSD, with a focus on neuropsychological, emotional, and functional features; and implications for neuropsychological assessment and treatment/rehabilitation. Case examples will be interwoven with discussion of the empirical literature.
After the webinar, participants will be able to:
- Describe common clinical features associated with co-occurring mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Discuss potential mechanisms that may complicate recovery from psychological and brain trauma following TBI events that are also psychologically traumatic.
- Utilize premorbid, post-injury, and assessment information in assessing patients with history of mild TBI and current PTSD.
- Explain limitations in sole reliance on neuropsychological test data to make differential etiological attributions of mild TBI vs. PTSD.
Target Audience: Neuropsychologists, rehabilitation psychologists, and other psychologists working with adult patients with history of mild traumatic brain injury
Instructional Level: Intermediate
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Registration closes 30 minutes prior to the live presentation.
Dr. Jennifer Vasterling is the Chief of Psychology at VA Boston Healthcare System, a Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine, and an affiliated investigator of the Behavioral Science Division of the National Center for PTSD. Trained as a clinical neuropsychologist, Dr. Vasterling’s research has centered on neurocognitive correlates of PTSD and the longitudinal emotional and neuropsychological outcomes of war-zone participation. She has edited several books, the most recent of which addresses co-morbid PTSD and mild traumatic brain injury. Dr. Vasterling currently serves on the editorial boards of the journals Neuropsychology and Psychological Assessment, is a current member of the INS Board of Governors, and is a former president of APA Division 40 (Society for Clinical Neuropsychology).
Dr. Laura Grande is the Director of Clinical Neuropsychology at VA Boston Healthcare System, and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine. Dr. Grande’s research interests include neuropsychology of aging, with a specific interest in selective attention and development of clinical assessment tools. Additional interest in memory and TBI and the impact of PTSD on cognitive and neuropsychological functioning. She serves the Co-Director of the Clinical Neuropsychology Postdoctoral Fellowship at VA Boston Healthcare System.