Insomnia in Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Assessment of VA/DoD Clinical Guidelines

Insomnia, the most commonly endorsed symptom of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), occurs in approximately 60 to 90% of patients with PTSD (Neylan et al., 1998). Of recent returning veterans, sleep disturbance is the second most common complaint (Bliese et al., 2005) and tends to persist after PTSD behavioral interventions (Belleville et al., 2005). Notably, sleep disturbances are significantly related to suicidal ideation, suicide attempt and suicide (Pigeon, et al., 2012). As of October, 2007, there was an estimated 300,000 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans who suffer PTSD or major depression (Tanielian et al., 2008). With the increase of military members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, the numbers of those at risk for developing PTSD and associated sleep disturbances is significant. With appropriate care, the number of those at further risk of suicide may be minimized. Determination of current recommendations for providers to help veterans improve sleep, including alternatives to pharmacotherapy, may help to minimize risk of suicide in the veteran population