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Hindi Research Article, J Sleep Disor Treat Care Vol: 4 Issue: 2
Sleep Disturbance, Psychiatric, and Cognitive Functioning in Veterans with Mild to Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury
| Henry J Orff1,2*, Amy J Jak1,2,3, Amber M Gregory4, Candice C Colón5, Dawn M Schiehser2,3,5, Sean PA Drummond1,2,3, James B Lohr1,2, Elizabeth W Twamley1,2 | |
| 1Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA | |
| 2Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA | |
| 3Psychology Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA | |
| 4University of Alabama, Birmingham, Department of Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA | |
| 5Research Service, VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA | |
| Corresponding author : Henry J Orff, PhD VA San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Dr. (9151B), San Diego, CA 92161 USA Tel: (858) 642-6492; Fax: (858) 642-6340 E-mail: horff@ucsd.edu |
|
| Received: October 06, 2014 Accepted: March 17, 2015 Published: March 19, 2015 | |
| Citation: Orff HJ, Jak AJ, Gregory AM, Colón CC, Schiehser DM, et al. (2015) Sleep Disturbance, Psychiatric, and Cognitive Functioning in Veterans with Mild to Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury. J Sleep Disor: Treat Care 4:2. doi:10.4172/2325-9639.1000153 |
Abstract
Sleep Disturbance, Psychiatric, and Cognitive Functioning in Veterans with Mild to Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury
Objective: For many Veterans, traumatic brain injury (TBI) can result in persistent post-concussive symptoms, of which sleep disturbances are among the most common. S disturbances have been shown to increase risk and/or exacerbate psychiatric and physical health problems in many different populations. However, few studies have examined the relationships among sleep, psychiatric, and cognitive functioning in Veterans with TBI.
Methods: Retrospective chart reviews of 137 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Veterans with a history of mild to moderate TBI referred for cognitive rehabilitation at the Veteran Affairs San Diego Healthcare System.
Results: 100% of Veterans reported clinically significant sleep disturbance (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory [PSQI] global scores >5). Veterans also reported clinically relevant impairments in sleep latency (50 minutes), total sleep time (5.5 hours), and sleep efficiency (77%). More severe sleep problems were related to greater endorsement of depressive, post-concussive, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology. Conversely, sleep disturbance showed limited associations with objective neuropsychological assessment. Overall measures of affective functioning were significantly associated with global measures of sleep quality, though such relationships were not observed for quantitative measures of sleep.
Conclusions: Veterans with mild to moderate TBI exhibit very high rates of sleep disturbance. Sleep disturbance is associated with higher levels of comorbid psychiatric symptomatology, particularly affective complaints. The high prevalence of sleep problems in Veterans with a history of TBI underscores a need to develop both a better understanding of etiologic mechanisms relating brain injury and sleep and a better clinical appreciation of the ramifications of sleep disturbance on daily functioning and recovery in individuals who experience TBI.
