Identifying the Demographic and Mental Health Factors That Influence Insomnia Treatment Recommendations Within a Veteran Population.

Objective/Background: Insomnia is a pervasive and costly disorder that is particularly prevalent within the U.S. Veteran population. Although Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is the recommended first-line treatment for insomnia, high rates of sedative-hypnotic prescribing continue. There is little research investigating the rates and factors impacting insomnia treatment recommendations, both behavioral and pharmacological. Participants: A cohort of 5,254 Veterans referred for either CBT-I or prescribed a sedative-hypnotic medication at a single VA Medical Center composed the group of participants. Methods: The current study evaluated the rates of insomnia treatment recommendations and the extent to which demographic variables, psychiatric disorders, and sleep disorders contributed to referrals for CBT-I or prescriptions for sedative-hypnotic medications within a large administrative data set. Results: Military service-related disability, insomnia diagnosis, and having one or more psychiatric diagnoses were associated with a greater likelihood of receiving a CBT-I referral (alone or in addition to a sedative-hypnotic medication) rather than a sedative-hypnotic prescription alone. A diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder was associated with a greater likelihood of receiving a sedative-hypnotic medication alone versus a CBT-I referral. Conclusions: Overall, the findings suggest that sedative-hypnotic medications were overwhelmingly the primary treatment recommendation despite evidence to support CBT-I as the recommended first-line treatment. However, key factors were identified that increased the likelihood of Veterans being referred for CBT-I. Suggestions for better identifying and understanding key factors that impact treatment recommendations are discussed.

Deconstructing Chronic Low Back Pain in the Older Adult-Step by Step Evidence and Expert-Based Recommendations for Evaluation and Treatment: Part VII: Insomnia.

OBJECTIVE : To present the seventh in a series of articles designed to deconstruct chronic low back pain (CLBP) in older adults. This article focuses on insomnia and presents a treatment algorithm for managing insomnia in older adults, along with a representative clinical case. METHODS : A modified Delphi process was used to develop the algorithm and supportive materials. A multidisciplinary expert panel representing expertise in health psychology and sleep medicine developed the algorithm and supporting documents that were subsequently refined through an iterative process of input from a primary care provider panel. RESULTS : We present an illustrative clinical case and an algorithm to help guide the care of older adults with insomnia, an important contributor to CLBP and disability. Multicomponent cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI) and similar treatments (e.g., brief behavioral treatment for insomnia [BBTI]) are the recommended first-line treatment. Medications should be considered only if BBTI/CBTI is suboptimal or not effective and should be prescribed at the lowest effective dose for short periods of time (< 90 days). CONCLUSIONS : Insomnia is commonly comorbid with CLBP in older adults and should be routinely evaluated and treated because it is an important contributor to pain and disability. The algorithm presented was structured to assist primary care providers in planning treatment for older adults with CLBP and insomnia.

MPI profile classifications and associated clinical findings among litigating motor vehicle collision patients.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in precollision, pericollision, and postcollision clinical variables across litigating motor vehicle collision (MVC) patients who were classified as Dysfunctional (DYS), Interpersonally Distressed (ID), or Adaptive Copers (ACs) based on Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI) profile classifications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sample of 240 MVC patients who sustained serious physical injuries and experienced MVC-related chronic pain completed the MPI and provided responses to a semistructured psycholegal interview designed to elicit injury-related and pain-related symptoms and treatments, determine the presence and impact of precollision experiences, and render psychiatric diagnoses and ratings of psychological disability. RESULTS: A significant multivariate effect of MPI profile group on postcollision variables was revealed, with the DYS and ID groups reporting more pain sites than the AC group and the DYS group receiving more recommendations for treatment than the AC group. Larger proportions of the DYS and ID groups were diagnosed as experiencing major depressive disorder than the AC group. A rating of total psychological disability was applied most often to members of the ID group, with partial psychological disability applied most often to members of the DYS group, and no psychological disability applied most often to members of the AC group. DISCUSSION: This study extends the MPI literature by establishing the usefulness of the measure in determining those reports of MVC-related pain and emotional distress that are most likely to be associated with postcollision psychological disability. The current study supports the usefulness of MPI profile classifications in identifying MVC patients who are likely to require and benefit from intensive psychological and other rehabilitative interventions.