CU Anschutz Study: Post-Concussion Irritability Tied to PTSD, Pain, Hearing
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Aurora, Colo. – September 19, 2026 -- A new study from the University of Colorado Anschutz Marcus Institute for Brain Health finds that irritability following chronic mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in military veterans stems from a combination of PTSD symptoms, chronic pain and difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments, not a single psychological cause.
Study of 124 veterans links irritability to three distinct factors
Published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, the research examined 124 military veterans, including 61 with chronic mTBI and 63 without any history of brain injury. Participants underwent standardized assessments measuring irritability, PTSD symptoms, chronic pain, balance and auditory processing, including speech-in-noise comprehension.