Outcomes of subjective sleep-wake disturbances 20 years after traumatic brain injury in childhood.

Abstract

Sleep-wake disturbances (SWD) are frequent following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in childhood. However, outcomes of SWD following transition into young adulthood remain unknown. This study investigated prevalence and factors associated with subjective sleep quality, insomnia, and excessive daytime sleepiness in young adults with a history of childhood TBI. Participants included 54 young adults with mild (n = 14), moderate (n = 27), and severe (n = 13) TBI (age: M = 27.7, SD = 3.3), and 13 typically developing controls (TDC, age: M = 25.9, SD = 2.2). SWD were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Compared to TDC, young adults with TBI reported a trend towards poorer sleep quality (F(1, 63) = 3.85, p = .054, ɳ2 = .06), with a higher risk in participants following moderate TBI (M = 2.40, SD = .56) compared to severe TBI (M = 1.89, SD = .62): p = .015. However, the groups did not differ on symptoms of insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness, and SWD were less frequent in severe TBI at 20-years post-injury. Poor sleep quality in young adults with TBI was associated with high levels of anxiety and pain, while pain was also associated with higher risk of insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness. Our findings indicate that sustaining TBI in childhood can increase risk of SWD in young adulthood, particularly following moderate TBI. Routine assessments and treatment of SWD, as well as anxiety and pain in children with TBI should therefore continue into adulthood.