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Blast in Context: The Neuropsychological and Neurocognitive Effects of Long-Term Occupational Exposure to Repeated Low-Level Explosives on Canadian Armed Forces' Breaching Instructors and Range Staff
Frontiers in Neurology
  • Oshin Vartanian, Defence Research and Development Canada
  • Catherine Tenn, Defence Research and Development Canada
  • Shawn G. Rhind, Defence Research and Development Canada
  • Ann Nakashima, Defence Research and Development Canada
  • Alex P. Di Battista, Defence Research and Development Canada
  • Lauren E. Sergio, York University
  • Diana J. Gorbet, York University
  • Douglas D. Fraser, Western University
  • Angela Colantonio, Rehabilitation Sciences Institute
  • Kristen King, Defence Research and Development Canada
  • Quan Lam, Defence Research and Development Canada
  • Doug Saunders, Defence Research and Development Canada
  • Rakesh Jetly, Canadian Forces Health Services
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-3-2020
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.3389/fneur.2020.588531
Abstract

Currently, there is strong interest within the military to better understand the effects of long-term occupational exposure to repeated low-level blast on health and performance. To gain traction on the chronic sequelae of blast, we focused on breaching—a tactical technique for gaining entry into closed/blocked spaces by placing explosives and maintaining a calculated safe distance from the detonation. Using a cross-sectional design, we compared the neuropsychological and neurocognitive profiles of breaching instructors and range staff to sex- and age-matched Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) controls. Univariate tests demonstrated that breaching was associated with greater post-concussive symptoms (Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire) and lower levels of energy (RAND SF-36). In addition, breaching instructors and range staff were slower on a test that requires moving and thinking simultaneously (i.e., cognitive-motor integration). Next, using a multivariate approach, we explored the impact of other possible sources of injury, including concussion and prior war-zone deployment on the same outcomes. Concussion history was associated with higher post-concussive scores and musculoskeletal problems, whereas deployment was associated with higher post-concussive scores, but lower energy and greater PTSD symptomatology (using PCL-5). Our results indicate that although breaching, concussion, and deployment were similarly correlated with greater post-concussive symptoms, concussion history appears to be uniquely associated with altered musculoskeletal function, whereas deployment history appears to be uniquely associated with lower energy and risk of PTSD. We argue that the broader injury context must, therefore, be considered when studying the impact of repetitive low-level explosives on health and performance in military members.

Citation Information
Oshin Vartanian, Catherine Tenn, Shawn G. Rhind, Ann Nakashima, et al.. "Blast in Context: The Neuropsychological and Neurocognitive Effects of Long-Term Occupational Exposure to Repeated Low-Level Explosives on Canadian Armed Forces' Breaching Instructors and Range Staff" Frontiers in Neurology Vol. 11 (2020)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/douglas-fraser/37/