Marine-turned-psychologist's brain breakthrough is helping veterans still fighting inside
As Veterans Day draws focus on the mental health challenges faced by those who served, one Marine-turned-psychologist says new brain technology could change how veterans — and their doctors —...
By Fox News · Fox News
As Veterans Day draws focus on the mental health challenges faced by those who served , one Marine-turned-psychologist says new brain technology could change how veterans — and their doctors — understand trauma. For years, the military has tried to close the gap between visible injuries and invisible ones. But as suicides and untreated post-traumatic stress continue to claim lives, some veterans are turning to modern science for answers traditional care can’t always provide. Dr. Amber Deckard, Psy.D., NPT-C, Director of Neuro-Psychological Services and the Neurocognitive Assessment Program (NAP) at Caron Treatment Centers, is one of them. A Marine veteran who served from 2003 to 2007, Deckard now uses advanced neuroimaging and data-driven assessments to help veterans understand and heal from brain injuries that can’t be seen on the surface. "Stigma remains one of the biggest barriers," she said. "Many fear that seeking care shows weakness, or that they could lose benefits they’ve already earned." PIONEERING PSYCHIATRIST'S SHOCKING REMARK REVEALS FIELD'S ANTISEMITISM PROBLEM Her program combines quantitative EEGs, PET scans, and neurocognitive testing to map how trauma, concussions, or substance use alter brain activity. The technology, Deckard says, offers "objective evidence" of invisible injuries. "It’s not just, ‘you’re anxious’ or ‘you’re depressed,’" she said. "We can show how the trauma affected the brain and measure improvement over time." That distinction matters in a community where roughly 60% of service members who experience mental health problems never seek help, according to War Department data. NAVY ACCUSED OF NEGLECTING BRAIN INJURIES AMONG PILOTS IN NEW HOUSE PROBE In 2022, the most recent year with full data, there were 6,407 suicides among U.S. veterans — a rate of 34.7 per 100,000, nearly double the 17.1 per 100,000 among non-veteran adults. Among those who received care through the VA in 2023, about 31% had a confirmed mental health diagnosis,…