Sleep Disorders in Women Veterans

Sleep Med Clin. 2018 Sep;13(3):433-441. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2018.04.010. Epub 2018 Jun 28.

Abstract

Sleep disorders are common among women veterans and contribute to poor functioning and quality of life. Studies show that women veterans are particularly prone to insomnia, sleep-disordered breathing, and insufficient sleep. Standard cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) should be viewed as first-line therapy for insomnia disorder, and women veterans should be screened and treated for sleep-disordered breathing. Behavioral and lifestyle factors contributing to insufficient sleep should also be addressed. Challenges exist in diagnosing and treating sleep disorders in women veterans, in part because of high rates of psychiatric comorbidities, such as posttraumatic stress disorder and depression.

Keywords: Depression; Insomnia; Nightmares; Posttraumatic stress disorder; Sleep apnea; Sleep-disordered breathing; Veterans; Women.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / methods*
  • Comorbidity*
  • Depressive Disorder* / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder* / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder* / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Sleep Wake Disorders* / diagnosis
  • Sleep Wake Disorders* / epidemiology
  • Sleep Wake Disorders* / therapy
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / diagnosis
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / epidemiology
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic* / therapy
  • Veterans*