VISN 16: Team Up to Facilitate Functioning (TUFF)

This series of interactive brochures is for treatment of postconcussive symptoms in returning Veterans with history of traumatic brain injury.

       Read the full description of these materials.

Each TUFF module includes:
  a) 1-page clinician's user manual,
  b) 1-page pre- and post-intervention symptom assessment, and
  c) 2-page patient-provider interactive brochure with references for community resources.

The interactive brochures contain several 'Team Up' sections designed specifically to encourage clinicians to personalize the administration of each brochure and practice new skills through collaboration with the Veteran. 

GET THE MATERIALS HERE:

Clinician Overview download 

     Academic Skills Guide (for providers) download 
     Academic Skills Assessment (for providers) download 
     Academic Skills Brochure (for Veterans) download 

     Cognitive Skills Guide (for providers) download 
     Cognitive Skills Assessment (for providers) download
     Cognitive Skills Brochure (for Veterans) download 

     Healthy Sleeping Guide (for providers) download 
     Healthy Sleeping Assessment (for providers) download 
     Healthy Sleeping Brochure (for Veterans) download 

     Managing Headaches Guide (for providers) download 
     Managing Headaches Assessment (for providers) download 
     Managing Headaches Brochure (for Veterans) download 

     Mood Management Guide (for providers) download 
     Mood Management Assessment (for providers) download 
     Mood Management Brochure (for Veterans) download 

     Stress Management Guide (for providers) download 
     Stress Management Assessment (for providers) download 
     Stress Management Brochure (for Veterans) download 

This work is important!  In 2008, it was estimated that approximately 300,000 Operation Enduring Freedom / Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans had suffered a combat related mild traumatic brain injury. Based on previous research, a small but significant minority of returning Veterans may experience cognitive, emotional, and somatic problems, called postconcussive syndrome. Given that 35% of OEF/OIF Veterans have sought care through Veterans Health Administration, it can reasonably be expected that most clinicians working within the VA healthcare system will provide care to a Veteran with a history of mild traumatic brain injury, including clinicians providing services in rural settings. The TUFF series was designed to enhance care for Veterans with a history of mild traumatic brain injury who have difficulty immediately accessing specialized rehabilitation services.

Nicholas J. Pastorek, Ph.D., Carol Gustafson Holdaway, M.S., Jared Benge, Ph.D., and Jane Booth, Ph.D. would like to thank the VISN 16 South Central MIRECC for the Clinical Educator Grant that supported the development of these materials. We would also like to thank the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Polytrauma Team, Pamela Striplin, N.P., Stephanie Sneed, M.D., Jennifer Romesser, Psy.D., and Kimberly Arlinghaus, M.D., for their thoughtful reviews and insightful feedback.