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1.
J Sleep Res ; : e14227, 2024 Jun 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38923629

ABSTRACT

Many individuals with serious mental illness (i.e. schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar or major depressive disorders, with serious functional impairments) have insomnia symptoms. Insomnia is a common reason for mental health referrals in the Veterans Health Administration. The primary aim of this study was to explore the costs (what participants lose or what trade-offs they make due to insomnia) and consequences (how insomnia impacts functioning) of insomnia for veterans with serious mental illness. Semi-structured interviews of 20 veterans with insomnia and serious mental illness were collected as data using an inductive phenomenological approach. Two main themes were identified: Sleep Affects Mental Health and Functioning; and Compromising to Cope. Results illuminate pathways by which sleep effort destabilizes functional recovery, and illustrate how sleep has multiplicative positive impacts on functioning and mood. Researchers and clinicians alike must explore supporting people with serious mental illness in replacing sleep effort with the recovery of meaningful identity-driven, values-based experiences formerly conceded due to serious mental illness, insomnia or both.

2.
J Sleep Res ; 31(5): e13570, 2022 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35319123

ABSTRACT

Insomnia is a prevalent experience for individuals with serious mental illness, and is one of the most common reasons for mental health referrals in the Veterans Health Administration. Insomnia also critically impacts psychiatric, cognitive and somatic outcomes. However, there is limited information about how people with serious mental illness (i.e. schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar, or major depressive disorders, with serious functional impairments) understand and respond to problems with their own sleep. Bringing this information to light will yield novel methods of research and treatment. The purpose of this study was to examine reactions to insomnia among veterans with serious mental illness and insomnia. An inductive phenomenological approach was used to collect data from 20 veterans with serious mental illness and insomnia using semi-structured interviews. Six themes were identified: Becoming Aware that Insomnia is a Problem; Response to and Dissatisfaction with Medications; Strategies to Get Better Sleep: Contrary to Usual Guidelines; Personal Responsibility for Getting Sleep; Resigned and Giving Up; and Acceptance and Persistence. These results provide insight into the process of identifying insomnia and the subsequent cognitive and behavioural responses that are used to manage sleep disturbances among veterans with serious mental illness, a group often excluded from gold-standard treatments for chronic insomnia. Clinical implications and recommendations for improving treatment efficacy are discussed.


Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder, Major , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Veterans , Humans , Mental Health , Sleep , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/complications , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy , Veterans/psychology
3.
Psychiatr Q ; 92(2): 431-442, 2021 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32794087

ABSTRACT

Peer specialists, or individuals with lived experience of mental health conditions who support the mental health recovery of others, often work side-by-side with traditional providers (non-peers) in the delivery of treatment groups. The present study aimed to examine group participant and peer provider experiences with peer and non-peer group co-facilitation. Data from a randomized controlled trial of Living Well, a peer and non-peer co-facilitated intervention for medical illness management for adults with serious mental illness, were utilized. A subset of Living Well participants (n = 16) and all peer facilitators (n = 3) completed qualitative interviews. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using a general inductive approach and thematic analysis. The complementary perspectives of the facilitators, teamwork between them, skillful group pacing, and peer facilitator self-disclosure contributed to a warm, respectful, and interactive group atmosphere, which created an environment conducive to social learning. Guidelines for successful co-facilitation emerging from this work are described.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/psychology , Mental Disorders/therapy , Peer Group , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Veterans/psychology
4.
Behav Sleep Med ; 18(6): 820-836, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31738588

ABSTRACT

Background: Insomnia has been identified as a key risk factor for suicide, though most studies have been limited to global measures of these constructs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the link between insomnia symptoms and five different aspects of suicide-related ideation. Participants: 1,160 active U.S. Army service members (719 male; Mage = 31.2; SDage = 8.62). Methods: As part of an archival analysis, retrospectively assessed insomnia, depression, anxiety symptoms, as well as suicide-related ideation, were evaluated. Suicide-related ideation was assessed in terms of: thoughts of death, thoughts of suicide, suicidal plan, suicidal intent, and suicidal communication. Results: Subjects with clinically significant insomnia symptoms were 3.5 times more likely to report any suicide-related ideation, and approximately 3 times more likely to report thoughts of death and thoughts of suicide. More frequent nocturnal awakenings (i.e., waking up three or more times during a single night) were associated with a greater likelihood of reporting thoughts of death or suicide, whereas greater middle insomnia (i.e., waking up and having difficulty getting back to sleep) was associated with lower odds of experiencing thoughts of suicide, suicidal plan, and suicidal intent. Conclusions: A more refined delineation of insomnia and suicide-related ideation may serve to clarify the nature of the association, and potentially offer some clues as to the underlying mechanisms. With regard to potential clinical implications, the results support that careful assessment of insomnia symptoms, suicide-related ideation, and their respective subtypes, is important and may influence how we estimate risk for suicide.


Subject(s)
Military Personnel/psychology , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/complications , Suicidal Ideation , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/psychology , United States
5.
J Sleep Res ; 28(4): e12833, 2019 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30891868

ABSTRACT

The majority of people with serious mental illness experience insomnia, and insomnia is one of the most frequent reasons for mental health referrals in the Veterans Health Administration. Insomnia also represents a critical obstacle to mental health recovery. Little is known about how military veterans with mental health problems conceptualize their sleep and sleep problems; such information may uncover new avenues for research and treatment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore how veterans with serious mental illness and insomnia experience and understand their sleep, towards the aim of identifying these new avenues. Participants included 20 veterans with insomnia and serious mental illness (i.e. schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar or major depressive disorders, with serious functional impairments). Data were collected via an inductive phenomenological approach using semi-structured interviews. We identified five themes: Sleep to Recharge; Sleep as a Fight; Sleep as Safety or Escape; Sleep as Dangerous; and Military Influence. Participants' relationship with sleep was complex; many associated it with intrusive and troubling hallucinations, paranoia and military experiences, yet at the same time desired sleep for its potential to liberate them from distress. Military mindsets both helped and hindered sleep. These results extend existing models of insomnia development and maintenance, and illuminate phenomena previously unidentified in this underserved veteran population. Clinical and theoretical implications are discussed, as well as new research directions for enhancing therapeutic efficacy.


Subject(s)
Mental Health/standards , Military Personnel/psychology , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/diagnosis , Veterans/psychology , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , United States
6.
J Sleep Res ; 27(3): e12612, 2018 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29024363

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to investigate the rates, predictors and correlates of insomnia in a national sample of US Army soldiers. Data were gathered from the cross-sectional survey responses of the All-Army Study, of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Service members. Participants were a representative sample of 21 499 US Army soldiers who responded to the All-Army Study self-administered questionnaire between 2011 and 2013. Insomnia was defined by selected DSM-5 criteria using the Brief Insomnia Questionnaire. The results highlight significant functional difficulties associated with insomnia among US soldiers, as well as insights into predictors of insomnia specific to this population. Insomnia was present in 22.76% of the sample. Predictors of insomnia status in logistic regression included greater number of current mental health disorders, less perceived open lines of communication with leadership, less unit member support and less education. Insomnia had global, negative associations with health, social functioning, support, morale, work performance and Army career intentions. The results provide the strongest evidence to-date that insomnia is common in a military population, and is associated with a wide array of negative factors in the domains of health, military readiness and intentions to remain in military careers.


Subject(s)
Military Personnel/psychology , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/diagnosis , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/psychology , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Female , Humans , Male , Predictive Value of Tests , Prevalence , Risk Assessment , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/epidemiology , Surveys and Questionnaires , United States/epidemiology
7.
Int J Psychiatry Clin Pract ; 22(2): 89-94, 2018 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28920491

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The study was designed to explore patterns of prescriber communication behaviors as they relate to consumer satisfaction among a serious mental illness sample. METHODS: Recordings from 175 antipsychotic medication-monitoring appointments between veterans with psychiatric disorders and their prescribers were coded using the Roter Interaction Analysis System (RIAS) for communication behavioral patterns. RESULTS: The frequency of prescriber communication behaviors (i.e., facilitation, rapport, procedural, psychosocial, biomedical, and total utterances) did not reliably predict consumer satisfaction. The ratio of prescriber to consumer utterances did predict consumer satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with client-centered care theory, antipsychotic medication consumers were more satisfied with their encounters when their prescriber did not dominate the conversation. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Therefore, one potential recommendation from these findings could be for medication prescribers to spend more of their time listening to, rather than speaking with, their SMI consumers.


Subject(s)
Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Communication , Consumer Behavior , Drug Prescriptions/standards , Mental Disorders/drug therapy , Patient Satisfaction , Patient-Centered Care/standards , Professional-Patient Relations , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Veterans
8.
Community Ment Health J ; 53(2): 163-175, 2017 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27061185

ABSTRACT

Adherence to recommendations for monitoring of metabolic side effects of antipsychotic medications has been historically low. This randomized controlled trial tested whether a computerized, patient-centered intervention that educated Veterans with serious mental illness about these side effects and encouraged them to advocate for receipt of monitoring would increase rates of monitoring compared to enhanced treatment as usual. The mean proportion of days adherent to monitoring guidelines over the 1-year study was similarly high and did not differ between the intervention (range 0.81-0.98) and comparison (range 0.76-0.96) groups. Many individuals in both groups had persistent abnormal metabolic parameter values despite high rates of monitoring, contact with medical providers, and receipt of cardiometabolic medications. Participants exposed to the intervention were interested in receiving personalized information about their cardiometabolic status, demonstrating the preliminary feasibility of brief interventions for enhancing involvement of individuals with serious mental illness in health care decision making.


Subject(s)
Antipsychotic Agents/metabolism , Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions/metabolism , Mass Screening/standards , Patient-Centered Care , Quality Improvement , Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Mid-Atlantic Region , Middle Aged
9.
Community Ment Health J ; 52(2): 136-41, 2016 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25821927

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated internet use among 239 veterans with serious mental illness who completed questionnaires assessing demographics and internet use in 2010-2011. The majority of individuals (70 %) reported having accessed the internet and among those, 79 % had accessed it within the previous 30 days. Those who were younger and more educated were more likely to have accessed the internet, as were those with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder, compared to individuals with PTSD. Veterans with serious mental illness commonly use the internet, including to obtain health information, though use varies across demographic characteristics and clinical diagnosis.


Subject(s)
Access to Information , Internet/statistics & numerical data , Mental Disorders/psychology , Veterans/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Age Distribution , Aged , Antipsychotic Agents , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/drug therapy , Mental Health Services , Mid-Atlantic Region , Middle Aged , Surveys and Questionnaires , United States , United States Department of Veterans Affairs , Veterans/statistics & numerical data , Young Adult
10.
Curr Psychiatry Rep ; 17(10): 79, 2015 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26279058

ABSTRACT

Up to 80 % of individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders experience sleep disturbances, which impact physical and mental health, as well as quality of life. In this paper, we review and integrate emerging literature, published between 2012 and 2014, regarding approaches to diagnosis and treatment of major sleep disorders for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), circadian rhythm dysfunction, and restless legs syndrome (RLS). We advocate for (1) the need to evaluate the utility of nonpharmacological approaches in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders; (2) documentation of guidelines to assist providers in clinically tailoring such interventions when their clients experience positive, negative, and/or cognitive symptoms; (3) research on the best ways providers can capitalize on clients' self-identified needs and motivation to engage in sleep treatments through shared decision making; and (4) the importance of investigating whether and how mental health and sleep treatment services should be better connected to facilitate access for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Assessment and tailored treatment of sleep disorders within mental health treatment settings has the potential to reduce sleep problems and improve functioning, quality of life, and recovery of this population.


Subject(s)
Schizophrenia/complications , Sleep Wake Disorders/complications , Sleep Wake Disorders/therapy , Circadian Rhythm , Humans , Quality of Life , Restless Legs Syndrome/complications , Restless Legs Syndrome/diagnosis , Restless Legs Syndrome/therapy , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/complications , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/diagnosis , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/therapy , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/complications , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/diagnosis , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy , Sleep Wake Disorders/diagnosis
11.
J Affect Disord ; 308: 65-70, 2022 07 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35413357

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated whether lifetime traumatic stress compared to deployment-related traumatic stress differentially affected the likelihood of insomnia in military personnel. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers (unweighted N = 21,499; weighted N = 670,335; 18-61 years; 13.5% Female). DSM-5 criteria were applied to the Brief Insomnia Questionnaire to determine past month insomnia diagnostic status. A lifetime stress survey was used to assess traumatic stress encountered outside of the military, and a deployment-related stress survey assessed for various types of deployment-related traumatic stress. RESULTS: Adjusting for sex and psychiatric disorders, lifetime traumatic stress increased the prevalence for insomnia among those who endorsed combat death of close friend or relative, 1.021 (95% CI, 1.02-1.02), followed by those who reported other experiences that put them at risk of death or serious injury, 1.013 (95% CI, 1.01-1.01), whereas deployment-related traumatic stress showed that the prevalence for insomnia was highest for those who reported being sexually assaulted or raped, 1.059 (95% CI, 1.04-1.08), followed by those who endorsed being hazed or bullied by one or more members of their unit 1.042 (95% CI, 1.04-1.05). LIMITATIONS: The cross-sectional nature of the assessment limits causal inferences and there was no clinician determined diagnosis for insomnia. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that traumas over both one's lifetime and during deployment are associated with a higher prevalence for insomnia among Army soldiers. Results highlight the importance of considering both lifetime and deployment traumas into mental health assessment and treatment for active-duty soldiers.


Subject(s)
Military Personnel , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Military Personnel/psychology , Risk Factors , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/epidemiology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology
12.
Sleep ; 44(7)2021 07 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33406270

ABSTRACT

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The present study characterized a sample of 4,667 Army soldiers based on their patterns of insomnia before, during, and after deployment, and explored pre-deployment factors predictive of these patterns. METHODS: Data were analyzed from the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Service members (STARRS)-Pre/Post Deployment Study (PPDS), using surveys that captured data approximately 1-2 months pre-deployment, and 3- and 9-month post-deployment from soldiers deployed to Afghanistan. Patterns of insomnia across time were examined. Theoretically derived variables linked to sleep disturbance were examined as predictors of the insomnia patterns. RESULTS: Five longitudinal patterns of insomnia characterized the majority of the sample: "No Insomnia" (no insomnia symptoms at any timepoint; 31%), "Deployment-related Insomnia" (no pre-deployment insomnia, developed insomnia symptoms during deployment and recovered; 40%), "Incident Insomnia" (development insomnia during or shortly after deployment that did not remit; 14%), "Chronic Insomnia" (insomnia both pre- and post-deployment; 11%), and "Other Insomnia" (reported insomnia at ≥1 timepoint, but no clear pattern across the deployment cycle; 4%). Several pre-deployment factors were predictive of insomnia trajectories, including lifetime major depressive episodes, traumatic brain injury history, posttraumatic stress disorder, and past year personal life stressors. CONCLUSIONS: Distinct longitudinal patterns of insomnia were identified, with more than half of the sample reporting insomnia at some point in the deployment cycle. Identifying mental health conditions that are associated with different insomnia patterns prior to deployment can inform targeted interventions to reduce long-term sleep difficulty.


Subject(s)
Depressive Disorder, Major , Military Personnel , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic , Humans , Mental Health , Risk Factors , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/epidemiology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/epidemiology
13.
J Psychiatr Res ; 120: 14-20, 2020 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31610406

ABSTRACT

Up to 80% of patients with schizophrenia experience sleep disturbances, which negatively impact daytime functioning. Given that the glutamatergic system is involved in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia as well as normal sleep-wake neurobiology, the current project aimed to determine whether sleep quality was related to brain glutamate levels in schizophrenia. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to assess subjective sleep quality and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to quantify glutamate in the bilateral anterior cingulate, left parietal cortex, and left hippocampus. Results indicate that global PSQI scores were negatively correlated with the anterior cingulate and parietal glutamate levels. In patients with schizophrenia, poorer sleep quality correlated with greater positive symptom severity. Our findings suggest that poor sleep quality is related to greater positive symptom severity and lower levels of anterior cingulate glutamate in individuals with schizophrenia. Interventions to enhance sleep quality may prove beneficial for patients. Future studies will examine whether glutamate relates to objective measures of sleep quality, and whether glutamate may mediate the relationship between sleep quality and symptom severity across the schizophrenia-spectrum.


Subject(s)
Glutamic Acid/metabolism , Gyrus Cinguli/metabolism , Hippocampus/metabolism , Parietal Lobe/metabolism , Schizophrenia , Sleep Wake Disorders , Adult , Female , Gyrus Cinguli/diagnostic imaging , Hippocampus/diagnostic imaging , Humans , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Male , Middle Aged , Parietal Lobe/diagnostic imaging , Schizophrenia/complications , Schizophrenia/metabolism , Schizophrenia/physiopathology , Severity of Illness Index , Sleep Wake Disorders/etiology , Sleep Wake Disorders/metabolism , Sleep Wake Disorders/physiopathology , Young Adult
14.
Psychiatr Rehabil J ; 43(2): 149-155, 2020 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31259581

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: People with serious mental illness have dramatically reduced life expectancy that is largely attributed to elevated rates of chronic medical conditions. Several group interventions have been developed and implemented in recent years to improve health and wellness among people with mental health conditions. Unfortunately, attendance in these interventions is often low, and there is limited understanding of factors that influence patient engagement in this treatment modality. METHOD: Participants (N = 242) were enrolled in 1 of 2 group-based health and wellness treatment programs. Using descriptive statistics and regression, we assessed treatment attendance and a range of potential predictors of attendance. RESULTS: We found lower attendance among people who were younger, people with more medical conditions, and people with more emergency room visits in the 6 months prior to the beginning of treatment. Younger age was a particularly strong predictor of low attendance and was the only variable significantly associated with attending zero treatment sessions. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: These results highlight the need for strategies to improve engagement of patients with poorer objective indicators of medical health and patients with younger age. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).


Subject(s)
Health Promotion , Mental Disorders/rehabilitation , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Patient Education as Topic , Psychotherapy, Group , Adult , Age Factors , Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged
15.
Psychiatr Rehabil J ; 42(3): 229-237, 2019 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30843720

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Poor sleep and pain are common in veterans with serious mental illness (SMI), yet it is unclear how these may impact dimensions of quality of life. As such, this study examined independent and additive contributions of sleep and pain difficulties on quality of life (QoL) among a sample of veterans with SMI and insomnia. METHOD: Participants were 57 veterans with SMI (schizophrenia spectrum, bipolar, or major depressive disorders with significant functional impairment) and at least subthreshold insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index ≥8). Measures assessed sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), pain intensity (Pain Numeric Rating Scale [PNRS]), pain interference (Short Form 12 Health Survey), and QoL (World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF). Multivariate multiple regression analyses examined the effects of sleep quality and pain on QoL. RESULTS: Forty-one veterans (71.9%) reported moderate-to-severe pain (PNRS ≥4). Poorer sleep quality was associated with greater pain interference and worse physical, emotional, and environmental QoL. Sleep quality, not pain, explained significant variance in environmental QoL (b = -2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI: -4.16, -.43]). Pain interference, not sleep quality, explained significant variance in physical health-related QoL (b = -.23; 95% CI [-.38, -.08]). CONCLUSIONS: Results reveal the importance of screening for insomnia and chronic pain among veterans with SMI. For these veterans who already struggle with daytime functioning, interventions such as integrated cognitive-behavioral therapy for pain-related insomnia are warranted. Such treatments must account for how sleep disturbance and chronic pain may differentially impact multiple facets of QoL. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Pain/epidemiology , Quality of Life , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/epidemiology , Veterans/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Bipolar Disorder/epidemiology , Comorbidity , Depressive Disorder, Major/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Schizophrenia/epidemiology , United States/epidemiology
16.
Rehabil Psychol ; 64(4): 475-481, 2019 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31204819

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of insomnia among active-duty soldiers with and without a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Research Method and Design: Data were extracted from the All Army Study (AAS), a cross-sectional, self-report survey completed by a representative sample of 21,499 U.S. Army soldiers from 2011 to 2013 as part of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers. History and severity of TBI were determined by participants' responses to questions regarding postinjury symptomology (i.e., loss of consciousness [LOC], amnesia, etc.). Insomnia symptoms were defined using DSM-5 criteria as measured by the Brief Insomnia Questionnaire. RESULTS: Approximately 63% of respondents reported lifetime history of mild TBI (mTBI), with ∼7% endorsing a history of moderate to severe TBI. Insomnia symptom prevalence rate increased with brain injury severity and number of TBIs with LOC, with ∼51% of those with mTBI and ∼55% of those with moderate to severe TBI demonstrating clinically elevated insomnia symptoms, compared to ∼37% insomnia prevalence rate among servicemembers without TBI. CONCLUSION/IMPLICATIONS: Results suggest high (> 50%) prevalence rates of insomnia symptoms among servicemembers with a lifetime history of brain injury, underscoring the need for behavioral sleep medicine interventions among active-duty personnel. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).


Subject(s)
Brain Injuries, Traumatic/epidemiology , Military Personnel/statistics & numerical data , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Comorbidity , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , United States/epidemiology , Young Adult
17.
Psychiatr Rehabil J ; 41(1): 67-71, 2018 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28125244

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with serious mental illness endorse many more medical and psychosocial barriers to physical activity (PA) than the general population. However, it is unknown if older adults with serious mental illness are at greater risk of experiencing barriers to PA than their younger counterparts. METHOD: The present study utilized a national VA dataset to compare veterans with serious mental illness ages 55 and older (n = 9,044) to veterans with serious mental illness ages 54 and younger (n = 8,782) on their responses to a questionnaire assessment of barriers to PA. RESULTS: Older veterans were more likely to endorse arthritis and cardiopulmonary disease, and less likely to endorse work schedule, as barriers to PA. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Interventions designed to increase PA for young/middle-aged adults with serious mental illness may be broadly useful for older adults with serious mental illness, with some modification to address specific health concerns. (PsycINFO Database Record


Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/epidemiology , Exercise , Health Behavior , Overweight/epidemiology , Schizophrenia/epidemiology , Veterans/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Aged , Bipolar Disorder/rehabilitation , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Overweight/rehabilitation , Schizophrenia/rehabilitation , United States/epidemiology , United States Department of Veterans Affairs/statistics & numerical data
18.
J Racial Ethn Health Disparities ; 5(2): 235-242, 2018 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28411327

ABSTRACT

Black consumers with serious mental illness (SMI) face significant challenges in obtaining quality mental health care and are at risk for experiencing significant disparities in mental health care outcomes, including recovery from mental illness. Patient-provider interactions may partly contribute to this disparity. The purpose of the current study was to understand the effects of race, psychosis, and therapeutic alliance on mental health recovery orientation among Veterans with SMI. Participants were Veterans who had an SMI being treated at two Veteran Affairs outpatient mental health clinics by a psychiatrist or nurse practitioner. Participants completed the Behavior and Symptom Identification Scale (BASIS-24), Mental Health Recovery Measure, and patient-report Scale to Assess the Therapeutic Relationship (STAR-P) which includes three subscales: positive collaboration, positive clinician input, and non-supportive clinician input. Regression analyses were used to determine interactive effects of race, psychosis severity, and therapeutic alliance variables. The sample was 226 Veterans (50% black, 50% white). Black participants were slightly older (p < .05), had higher baseline psychosis (p < .05), higher mental health recovery (p < .05), and perceived less non-supportive clinician input (p < .01) than white participants. Regression analyses indicated a significant three-way interaction among race, psychosis, and positive collaboration (p < .01). Greater positive collaboration attenuated the negative effect of higher levels of psychosis on mental health recovery orientation for black participants. Conversely, for white participants, positive collaboration had little effect on the negative relationship between psychosis severity and mental health recovery orientation. Increased levels of psychosis may inhibit patients' perceptions of their ability to recover from SMI. However, for black participants, positive collaboration with mental health providers may moderate the effects of psychotic symptomatology.


Subject(s)
Bipolar Disorder/rehabilitation , Depressive Disorder, Major/rehabilitation , Healthcare Disparities/ethnology , Mental Health Recovery , Psychotic Disorders/rehabilitation , Quality of Health Care , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/rehabilitation , Therapeutic Alliance , Adult , Black or African American , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/rehabilitation , Middle Aged , Veterans , White People
19.
J Psychiatr Pract ; 23(4): 270-280, 2017 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28749831

ABSTRACT

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Insomnia is pervasive among people with serious mental illnesses (SMI) and has a profound negative impact on their psychiatric symptom management and recovery. However, little is known about the factors that affect severity of insomnia in those with SMI. In addition, very few studies have explored whether evidence-based interventions developed for those without SMI are appropriate for or applicable to individuals with SMI. The purpose of this study was to test the role of arousal, dysfunctional cognitions about sleep, and sleep-related behaviors in predicting severity of insomnia in a sample of 60 Veterans who were receiving care in Veterans Health Administration mental health and psychosocial rehabilitation programs and who reported subjective insomnia. In addition, information was collected regarding the types of insomnia treatments provided to these Veterans. METHODS: Participants completed assessments of insomnia severity and sleep-related arousal, behaviors, and cognitions. Medical records were reviewed to determine whether participants had been screened/assessed for insomnia and whether treatments for insomnia were provided before the date of referral to the study. Multiple regression was used to predict insomnia severity on the basis of these factors. RESULTS: Most participants (81.7%) reported moderate to severe insomnia, although only 3.3% had a diagnosis of insomnia in their medical records. Worry and helplessness about sleep were predictive of insomnia severity; better self-reported sleep hygiene and higher levels of arousal were also associated with greater severity of insomnia. Education about sleep hygiene and medication were the only types of insomnia treatment received. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to insomnia among individuals without SMI, insomnia in Veterans with SMI is associated with dysfunctional sleep-related behaviors and cognitions. Many of the Veterans also lacked access to settings and resources conducive to healthy sleep. Veterans with SMI should be regularly assessed for insomnia. Research is needed concerning optimal evidence-based insomnia interventions for addressing behaviors and cognitions in this population in the context of these challenges.


Subject(s)
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Mental Disorders , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/physiopathology , Veterans , Adult , Comorbidity , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Mental Disorders/rehabilitation , Middle Aged , Patient Education as Topic , Severity of Illness Index , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/epidemiology , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/therapy , Veterans/psychology
20.
J Affect Disord ; 221: 25-30, 2017 10 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28628764

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: There has been a great deal of research on the comorbidity of insomnia and psychiatric disorders, but much of the existing data is based on small samples and does not assess the full diagnostic criteria for each disorder. Further, the exact nature of the relationship between these conditions and their impact on cognitive problems are under-researched in military samples. METHOD: Data were collected from the All Army Study of the Army Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Service members (unweighted N = 21, 449; weighted N = 674,335; 18-61 years; 13.5% female). Participants completed the Brief Insomnia Questionnaire to assess for insomnia disorder and a self-administered version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Screening Scales to assess for psychiatric disorders and cognitive problems. RESULTS: Military soldiers with current major depressive episode (MDE) had the highest prevalence of insomnia disorder (INS; 85.0%), followed by current generalized anxiety disorder (GAD; 82.6%) and current posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD; 69.7%), respectively. Significant interactions were found between insomnia and psychiatric disorders; specifically, MDE, PTSD, and GAD status influenced the relationship between insomnia and memory/concentration problems. LIMITATIONS: Cross-sectional nature of the assessment and the absence of a comprehensive neurocognitive battery. CONCLUSION: Psychiatric disorders moderated the relationship between insomnia and memory/concentration problems, suggesting that psychiatric disorders contribute unique variance to cognitive problems even though they are associated with insomnia disorder. Results highlight the importance of considering both insomnia and psychiatric disorders in the diagnosis and treatment of cognitive deficits in military soldiers.


Subject(s)
Cognition Disorders/psychology , Mental Disorders/psychology , Military Personnel/psychology , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/psychology , Adult , Anxiety Disorders/psychology , Comorbidity , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depressive Disorder, Major/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/epidemiology , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires , United States , Young Adult
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