A Longitudinal Investigation of Sleep Quality in Adolescents and Young Adults After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury. Issue 2 (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schmidt, Adam T.; Li, Xiaoqi; Hanten, Gerri R.; McCauley, Stephen R.; Faber, Jessica; Levin, Harvey S.
• Is Part Of: Cognitive and behavioral neurology. Volume 28:Issue 2(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: mild traumatic brain injury -- sleep -- Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index -- adolescents -- young adults; Neuropsychiatry -- Periodicals; Clinical neuropsychology -- Periodicals; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.1097/WNN.0000000000000056
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1543-3633

Abstract

Abstract : Objective and Background: We examined sleep-related problems in adolescents and young adults after a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) or orthopedic injury. We extended the analysis of data from a study of early emotional and neuropsychological sequelae in these populations (McCauley et al. 2014. J Neurotrauma . 31:914). Methods: We gave the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to 77 participants with MTBI, 71 with orthopedic injury, and 43 non-injured controls. The age range was 12 to 30 years. We tested sleep quality within 96 hours of injury and at 1- and 3-month follow-up. Participants also completed measures of pain and fatigue, drug and alcohol use, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Results: Older participants (mean age=25 years) in the MTBI group exhibited a sharp increase in sleep-related symptoms between the baseline assessment and 1 month, and still had difficulties at 3 months. Younger participants with MTBI (mean age=15 years) and older participants with an orthopedic injury had modest increases in sleep difficulties between baseline and 1 month. The participants with MTBI also had more clinically significant sleep difficulties at all 3 assessments. At 3 months, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores in younger participants with MTBI and all participants with orthopedic injury did not differ significantly from the non-injured controls'. The controls had no significant change in their sleep symptoms during the 3 months. Conclusions: Sleep difficulties in young adults may persist for ⩽3 months after MTBI and exceed those after orthopedic injury. Clinicians should seek and treat sleep-related problems after MTBI.