TY - JOUR
T1 - Traumatic Brain Injury, Sleep, and Mental Health
T2 - A Longitudinal Study of Air Force Personnel Pre- and Postdeployment to Iraq
AU - Holster, Jessica L.
AU - Bryan, Craig J.
AU - Heron, Elizabeth A.
AU - Seegmiller, Robert A.
PY - 2016/4/26
Y1 - 2016/4/26
N2 - OBJECTIVE:: We investigated the complex relationships between traumatic brain injury (TBI), sleep, and mental health problems longitudinally among US service members (SMs) pre- and postdeployment to Iraq. PARTICIPANTS:: One hundred sixty-eight SMs enrolled in a 4-week Air Force Basic Combat Convoy Course predeployment. DESIGN:: Self-report data were collected at the beginning and end of training and then at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postdeployment. Regression analyses were implemented, and participants were categorized into 4 groups based on TBI history for further statistical analysis. RESULTS:: Positive TBI history was associated with greater symptoms of insomnia and posttraumatic stress predeployment and persistence of insomnia symptoms, posttraumatic stress, and depression postdeployment. Positive TBI history and posttraumatic stress served as risk factors for head injury in Iraq, and SMs who reported a head injury during deployment also endorsed greater posttraumatic stress postdeployment than those without head injury. SMs with positive TBI history who also reported a new TBI in Iraq endorsed the greatest sleep and mental health problems across the study period. CONCLUSIONS:: This study provides valuable information regarding temporal relationships between TBI, sleep, and mental health problems among a combat military population. Findings have important implications from both prevention and clinical perspectives.
AB - OBJECTIVE:: We investigated the complex relationships between traumatic brain injury (TBI), sleep, and mental health problems longitudinally among US service members (SMs) pre- and postdeployment to Iraq. PARTICIPANTS:: One hundred sixty-eight SMs enrolled in a 4-week Air Force Basic Combat Convoy Course predeployment. DESIGN:: Self-report data were collected at the beginning and end of training and then at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postdeployment. Regression analyses were implemented, and participants were categorized into 4 groups based on TBI history for further statistical analysis. RESULTS:: Positive TBI history was associated with greater symptoms of insomnia and posttraumatic stress predeployment and persistence of insomnia symptoms, posttraumatic stress, and depression postdeployment. Positive TBI history and posttraumatic stress served as risk factors for head injury in Iraq, and SMs who reported a head injury during deployment also endorsed greater posttraumatic stress postdeployment than those without head injury. SMs with positive TBI history who also reported a new TBI in Iraq endorsed the greatest sleep and mental health problems across the study period. CONCLUSIONS:: This study provides valuable information regarding temporal relationships between TBI, sleep, and mental health problems among a combat military population. Findings have important implications from both prevention and clinical perspectives.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84973904208&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84973904208&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000237
DO - 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000237
M3 - Article
C2 - 27120293
AN - SCOPUS:84973904208
SN - 0885-9701
JO - Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
JF - Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
ER -