Prevalence & Mental Health Correlates of Insomnia in First-Encounter Veterans With & Without Military Sexual Trauma

There is limited information about prevalence of insomnia in general populations of veterans of recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan...

53.1% of veterans without military sexual trauma (MST) and 60.8% of veterans with MST had clinically significant insomnia symptoms, with the MST subsample reporting more severe symptoms. Insomnia was more prevalent than depression, hypomania, PTSD, and substance misuse. Veterans with insomnia were more likely to seek care for physical health problems and primary care versus mental health concerns. For the veteran sample without MST, age, combat service, traumatic brain injury, pain, and depression were associated with worse insomnia. For the MST subsample, employment status, pain, and depression were associated with worse insomnia.

Study findings indicate a considerably higher rate of insomnia in veterans compared to what has been found in the general population. Insomnia is more prevalent, and more severe, in veterans with MST. Routine insomnia assessments and referrals to providers who can provide evidence-based treatment are crucial.

Via:  http://ht.ly/ScStb 

By: Jenkins MM, Colvonen PJ, Norman SB, Afari N, Allard CB, Drummond SP.