He said the program begins with an assessment to determine the challenges a servicemember is facing because of post-concussive syndrome resulting from a traumatic brain injury, or TBI.

"TBI is an event. You can be fine from a TBI, or you can have lots of issues from a TBI," Twillie explained. "If you have lots of issues, that's a syndrome we call post-concussive syndrome."

Twillie said some affected servicemembers get the feeling they're "just not right." Twillie described this feeling as a loss of sense of self, and said that because it can affect the entire family, the treatment program involves family members.

Once patients' issues are clearly defined, they begin a 12-week program that, in essence, is rehab for the brain. Twillie compared it to knee surgery. Even though flexing and extending the knee is painful after surgery, it provides the best chance of regaining full mobility, he explained.

"If you stress the brain at the place it's having problems, it will rewire in order to make up for that stress and we can help these guys get better," he said. "Having people like speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists ... in a multidisciplinary approach is ... very, very helpful."


Machines that help the brain relearn to balance the body, reacquire visual and spatial memory or regain verbal expression are part of the treatment program. Another piece that occurs about seven weeks into the program involves exposing patients to stresses they might encounter while serving in combat.

"If the patient is going to have some sort of psychological freeze or challenge like that, I'd like to know today, not in Iraq," Twillie said. "Another thing it does for our patients is it gives them a sense of confidence."

It can also show those who think they're ready to return that they need some more time to heal, he said.