Long-term follow-up of the patients suffering of combat-related traumatic stress revealed that co-occurence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) proved to be “the rule rather then exception”.

The aim of the paper was to determine the possible influence of the mild TBI on the severity and on the duration of the PTSD.

Totaly 60 patients suffering of PTSD were assessed and divided in two groups: with mild TBI and without the history of head trauma. The presence and the severity of the PTSD and TBI were assesed using following instruments: The Clinician-Administrated PTSD Scale for DSM-IV (CAPS-DX) and Glasgow Coma Scale, respectively.The differences between groups were evaluated using Student t test

Results obtained showed that two groups differed significantly on the following items of the CAPS score: total severity, severity of the D cluster, functional deficits, and duration of symptoms.

Mild TBI might influence on the clinical course and severity of the PTSD, by diminishing the capacity to employ cognitive resources that would normally be engaged in problem-solving and regulationg emotions after trauma and leaving the individual more helpless and susceptible to persistent trauma related psychopathology.