Sleep Disorders

Sleep is an essential component of well-being, yet short sleep and poor sleep quality are ubiquitous in the military. Even though in the general population the prevalence of insomnia is estimated to be 6–10%, in uniformed service members the prevalence is estimated to be almost 50%. There are several factors that may explain the large difference in prevalence estimates between civilian and those in uniform (or veterans). One often cited factor is military culture, comprised of shift work and vigorous conditioning, which may necessitate sleep restriction and erratic sleep patterns over the course of training or deployment. Additionally, active duty members have a higher prevalence of sedative hypnotic prescription compared to non-active duty service members. Insomnia and/or insomnia-like symptoms are also a major public health issue for veterans, who have a two to three times higher prevalence of insomnia than in the general U.S. adult population. In veterans, insomnia, sleep-related disordered breathing, and nightmares have been associated with suicide attempts, and treatment for sleep disorders is correlated to a reduced risk for suicide attempts in veterans. This chapter reviews sleep disorders in both military and veteran patients including how to identify, assess, and treat.