The association of lifetime and deployment-acquired traumatic brain injury with postdeployment binge and heavy drinking

Objective: To investigate associations of lifetime traumatic brain injury (LT-TBI) prior to an index deployment, and/or deployment-acquired TBI (DA-TBI), with postdeployment binge and heavy drinking. Setting: Soldiers from 3 Brigade Combat Teams deployed to Afghanistan in 2012. Participants: A total of 4645 soldiers who participated in the Army STARRS Pre/Post Deployment Study and completed 4 assessments: T0 (1-2 months predeployment), T1 (upon return to United States), T2 (3 months postdeployment), and T3 (9 months postdeployment). Design: Prospective, longitudinal study controlling for baseline binge drinking. Main Measures: Self-reported past month binge drinking (5+ alcoholic beverages on the same day) and past month heavy drinking (binge drinking at least weekly) at T2 and T3. Results: In total, 34.3% screened positive for LT-TBI, and 19.2% screened positive for DA-TBI. At T2 only, LT-TBI, but not DA-TBI, was associated with increased odds of binge drinking (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20-1.60, P <.001) and heavy drinking (AOR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.09-1.49, P =.007). Among the subgroup with LT-TBI, also having DA-TBI was associated with increased risk of heavy drinking at T3 (AOR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.03-1.95, P =.047). Conclusion: Routine screening for LT-TBI may help target efforts to prevent alcohol misuse among military members.