Subjective sleep quality and postconcussion symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
The goal of this investigation is to examine the prevalence of poor subjective sleep in patients with a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and examine the relationship between subjective sleep quality and postconcussive symptoms (PCS), above and beyond the typical demographic and psychological distress variables.


METHODS
Individuals with a history of mTBI completed online questionnaires. Regression analysis was utilized to determine if subjective sleep quality would predict PCS severity, above and beyond demographic variables and psychological distress.


METHODS
Individuals with a history of mTBI (n = 158) completed surveys online. Sleep quality was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and PCS with the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI). Demographic information was collected and psychological distress was measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18).


RESULTS
In this sample, 92% of patients with mTBI reported poor sleep. Sleep quality significantly accounted for the variance in PCS, above and beyond demographics, time since injury and psychological distress (p < 0.001), although only a small amount of the variance in PCS was explained.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that poor subjective sleep quality is a significant problem in those with mTBI. While sleep is associated with PCS severity, psychological distress is a more potent predictor.
a Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Service, James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital , Tampa , FL , USA .
Stephanie J
SJ
Towns
a Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Service, James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital , Tampa , FL , USA .
Marc A
MA
Silva
a Mental Health & Behavioral Sciences Service, James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital , Tampa , FL , USA .|b Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences , University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA .|c Department of Psychology , University of South Florida , Tampa , FL , USA .|d Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center , Tampa , FL , USA , and.|e Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D)/Rehabilitation Research & Development (RR&D) Center of Excellence: Maximizing Rehabilitation Outcomes, James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital , Tampa , FL , USA.
Heather G
HG
Belanger
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Concussion; mood; postconcussive syndrome; psychological distress