An examination of sleep quality in veterans with a dual diagnosis of PTSD and severe mental illness. (January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, Wilson J.; Wilkerson, Allison K.; Milanak, Melissa E.; Tuerk, Peter W.; Uhde, Thomas W.; Cortese, Bernadette M.; Grubaugh, Anouk L.
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 247(2017)
• Page Start: 15
• Page End: 20
• Publication Date: 2017-01
• Subjects: PTSD -- Severe mental illness -- Sleep -- Veterans; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.07.062
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: Poor sleep quality is one of the most frequently reported symptoms by veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and by veterans with severe mental illness (SMI; i.e., schizophrenia spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder, major depression with or without psychotic features). However, little is known about the compounding effects of co-occurring PTSD/SMI on sleep quality in this population. Given the high rates of comorbidity and poor functional outcomes associated with sleep dysfunction, there is a need to better understand patterns of poor sleep quality in this population. The present study provides a description of sleep quality in veterans with a dual diagnosis of PTSD/SMI relative to veterans with PTSD only. Results indicated that, despite similar reports of PTSD symptom severity between the groups, veterans with PTSD/SMI reported higher levels of poor sleep quality than veterans only diagnosed with PTSD. Specifically, veterans with PTSD/SMI reported significantly greater difficulties with sleep onset and overall more sleep disturbance than their non-SMI counterparts. Implications of the findings are discussed within the context of an existing model of insomnia and suggest that more comprehensive sleep assessment and the provision of targeted sleep interventions may be helpful for those with a dual diagnosis of PTSD/SMI. Highlights: Sleep quality in veterans with PTSD and severe mental illness is examined. Veterans with a dual diagnosis were compared to those with PTSD only. Veterans with a dual diagnosis report poorer sleep quality in comparison. Specific problems include sleep onset difficulty and frequent disturbances.