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Original Article

Insomnia symptoms and behavioural health symptoms in veterans 1 year after traumatic brain injury

, , , , , , , & show all
Pages 1400-1408 | Received 06 Oct 2014, Accepted 14 Jun 2015, Published online: 14 Aug 2015
 

Abstract

Objective: Insomnia and behavioural health symptoms 1 year after traumatic brain injury (TBI) were examined in a clinical sample representative of veterans who received inpatient treatment for TBI-related issues within the Veterans Health Administration.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional sub-study (n = 112) of the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centres’ traumatic brain injury model system programme. Prevalence estimates of insomnia, depression, general anxiety, nightmares, headache and substance use, stratified by injury severity, were derived. Univariate logistic regression was used to examine unadjusted effects for each behavioural health problem and insomnia by injury severity.

Results: Participants were primarily male, < 30 years old and high school educated. Twenty-nine per cent met study criteria for insomnia; those with mild TBI were significantly more likely to meet criteria (43%) than those with moderate/severe TBI (22%), χ2(1, n = 112) = 5.088, p ≤ 0.05. Univariable logistic regression analyses revealed

depressive symptoms and general anxiety were significantly associated with insomnia symptoms after TBI of any severity. Headache and binge drinking were significantly inversely related to insomnia symptoms after moderate/severe TBI, but not MTBI.

Conclusions: Veterans with history of TBI, of any severity, and current insomnia symptoms may be at increased risk for depression and anxiety 1 year after TBI.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the veterans who participate in the USA Veterans Affairs Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centre Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Program study, as well as the research assistants, clinicians and study co-ordinators who assist with study operations at each of the study sites.

Declaration of interest

This study was carried out by researchers affiliated with the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centre Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Collaboration, the National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (H133A120035) and the Federal Government Centre of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation VA Health Services Research and Development (HSRD) (1 I50 HX001233-01 & VA HSRD; SDR 13-228). The Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centre Traumatic Brain Injury Model System Collaboration is funded through an Interagency Agreement between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. The contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the Department of Education or the Department of Veterans Affairs and endorsement by the USA federal government should not be assumed.

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