Posted on 2/16/2012
Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury (DCoE) will host its next webinar, “Treating Sleep Problems in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury,” Feb. 23, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. (EST).
Between 72 and 94 percent of service members with traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience sleep disorders, according to Cmdr. Michael Handrigan, DCoE director of TBI clinical standards of care. Dr. James Bender, DCoE clinical psychologist, wrote in a DCoE blog post that poor sleep in combat soldiers is associated with greater risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Although studies continue on sleep problems in patients with PTSD and TBI, promising behavioral and pharmacological treatments are recommended for health care providers with such patients.