Insomnia in male veterans with and without military sexual trauma receiving care within a VA medical center.

STUDY

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the prevalence and correlates of insomnia in male veterans with military sexual trauma (MST) who currently receive care within a VA medical center.

METHODS

We evaluated cross-sectional data from a VA medical center (n = 138) using the following instruments: Insomnia Severity Index, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Consumption, and a nightmare question for insomnia, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and drinking, respectively. Bivariate and multivariable analyses assessed the relationship between Insomnia Severity Index and other clinical variables.

RESULTS

About 31.9% screened positive for MST. When compared to those without MST (MST-), those with MST (MST+) had a higher prevalence of insomnia (95.5% vs 81.9%) and higher Insomnia Severity Index (20 ± 5.1 vs 16.7 ± 7.2, P = .003) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (48.5 ± 14.4 vs 38.2 ± 19.8, P = .0008) total scores. In the multivariable models, the Insomnia Severity Index total score was associated with the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist total score (P = .015) in MST+ individuals and with Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self Report (P < .001) in MST- individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Most veterans with MST within the Veterans Health Administration had insomnia, which was associated with their underlying psychiatric comorbidity.

CITATION: Makar K, Mills A, Rivera LA, Aguiar TL, He S, Subhajit C. Insomnia in male veterans with and without military sexual trauma receiving care within a VA medical center. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(6):991-994.