Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Insomnia in Veterans with Long-Standing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This uncontrolled pilot study assessed the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in veterans with long-standing posttraumatic stress disorder. Male veterans with current chronic insomnia and PTSD (n = 8; M age = 58.6, SD = 3.0; 87.5% African American, 12.5% European American; 87.5% Vietnam Veterans, 12.5% 1st Gulf War Veterans) reported a trauma related to their military service. Participants appeared for five weekly individual sessions of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and completed one-week assessments of objective sleep (actigraphy) and subjective sleep (sleep diaries), the Insomnia Severity Index, and measures of functioning, posttraumatic stress disorder, and psychological distress both before and after treatment. Paired t tests revealed significant posttreatment improvements for various subjective assessments of sleep patterns but actigraphy-defined sleep was unchanged. Measures of functioning, nightmares, and posttraumatic stress disorder severity were also unchanged at posttreatment. Preliminary results were encouraging in improving subjective perceptions of sleep in individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder, warranting further study with more rigorous methodology.

Keywords:

• mental health
• trauma
• treatment
• war/conflict/terrorism

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a pilot grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center.

Notes

This article not subject to US copyright law.