Benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia for Women Veterans with and without Probable Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

• Published in: Women's health issues 2022-03, Vol.32 (2), p.194-202
• Main Authors: Carlson, Gwendolyn C., Kelly, Monica R., Mitchell, Michael, Josephson, Karen R., McGowan, Sarah Kate, Culver, Najwa C., Kay, Morgan, Alessi, Cathy A., Fung, Constance H., Washington, Donna L., Hamilton, Alison, Yano, Elizabeth M., Martin, Jennifer L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Female; Humans; Quality of Life; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders - therapy; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - complications; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy; Veterans - psychology
• ISSN: 1049-3867; 1878-4321; 1878-4321
• DOI: 10.1016/j.whi.2021.10.007

This study compared the benefits of cognitive–behavioral therapy for insomnia for sleep, mental health symptoms, and quality of life (QoL) in a sample of women veterans with and without probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) comorbid with insomnia disorder. Seventy-three women veterans (30 with probable PTSD) received a manual-based 5-week cognitive–behavioral therapy for insomnia treatment as part of a behavioral sleep intervention study. Measures were completed at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Sleep measures included the Insomnia Severity Index, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, sleep efficiency measured by actigraphy, and sleep efficiency and total sleep time measured by sleep diary. Mental health measures included the PTSD Checklist-5, nightmares per week, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 scale. QoL was measured with the Short Form-12. Linear mixed models compared changes over time across groups. Independent t tests examined PTSD symptom changes in women veterans with probable PTSD. Both groups demonstrated improvements across sleep (ps