B – 47 Identifying Risk Factors For Depression Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the United States Veteran Population

Abstract Objective Depression following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is common and can significantly impact health, cognitive and functional capacity, and quality of life. Identifying risk factors is essential—particularly in Veterans, who are at elevated risk due to the demands of military service. Early detection may allow for timely intervention and reduce long-term consequences. Although some studies have explored predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), few have focused on post-mTBI depression, despite its role as a potential precursor to PTSD. This study examined whether demographic, cognitive, and injury-related variables predict depressive symptoms in Veterans with mTBI. Method Participants were 70 United States Veterans (87.1% male; 97.1% White; mean age = 51.90 years) selected from an archival dataset of 666 cases at the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Inclusion criteria required a history of at least one mTBI and completion of the Beck Depression Inventory–Second Edition (BDI-II) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale–Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Information subtest. Exclusion criteria included moderate or severe TBI, neurological or neurodegenerative conditions, severe psychiatric diagnoses, and current substance abuse. A standard multiple linear regression was conducted using BDI-II scores as the outcome and six predictors: age, gender, race, education, premorbid intelligence, and head injury history. Results The model was not statistically significant, F(6, 63) = 1.12, p = .36, R2 = .10. Gender and age showed the largest unique variance (sr2 = .03, each) but were not significant. Conclusion Although no predictors reached significance, gender and age may meaningfully contribute. Further research with larger, more diverse samples is recommended.