Neuropsychological performance and sleep disturbance following traumatic brain injury

To examine the relation between sleep disturbance and neurocognitive ability among persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Correlational research evaluating demographic and neuropsychological predictors of sleep disturbance using multiple regression analysis and analysis of variance. Eighty-seven patients with mild to severe TBI admitted to a comprehensive outpatient neurorehabilitation program. Sleep disturbance assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed that performance on selected measures of cognitive functioning significantly improved prediction of sleep disturbance, accounting for 14% of variance beyond that accounted for by injury severity and gender. The total model accounted for 31% of the variance in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores. Patients with mild TBI reported more sleep disturbance (P < .01) than did patients with severe TBI. Sleep disturbance among patients with TBI may be associated with a particular constellation of neuropsychological abilities. These issues are discussed in relation to prior findings that indicate the involvement of additional neuropsychiatric factors associated with sleep disturbance in mild TBI.