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Review
. 2012 Nov;30(4):1299-312.
doi: 10.1016/j.ncl.2012.08.008.

Traumatic brain injury and sleep disorders

Mari Viola-Saltzman  1 , Nathaniel F Watson
Affiliations
Review

Traumatic brain injury and sleep disorders

Mari Viola-Saltzman et al. Neurol Clin. 2012 Nov.

Abstract

Sleep disturbance is common after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Insomnia, fatigue, and sleepiness are the most frequent post-TBI sleep complaints with narcolepsy (with or without cataplexy), sleep apnea (obstructive or central), periodic limb movement disorder, and parasomnias occurring less commonly. In addition, depression, anxiety, and pain are common TBI comorbidities with substantial influence on sleep quality. Diagnosis of sleep disorders after TBI may involve polysomnography, multiple sleep latency testing, or actigraphy. Treatment is disorder-specific and includes the use of medications, continuous positive airway pressure, or behavioral modifications. Unfortunately, treatment of sleep disorders associated with TBI often does not improve sleepiness or neuropsychologic function.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Coup-contrecoup injury following right temporal TBI with hemorrhagic contusion in the right frontotemporal and left tempooccipital regions, with scattered subarachnoid hemorrhage, and a right occipitoparietal subdural.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Coup-contrecoup injury following right temporal TBI with hemorrhagic contusion in the right frontotemporal and left tempooccipital regions, with scattered subarachnoid hemorrhage, and a right occipitoparietal subdural.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Axial GRE MRI showing multiple punctate microhemorrhages consistent with diffuse axonal injury following a motor vehicle accident.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Axial GRE MRI showing multiple punctate microhemorrhages consistent with diffuse axonal injury following a motor vehicle accident.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Computed tomography showing a right temporal epidural hematoma with adjacent contusion and vasogenic edema.
Flowchart 1
Flowchart 1
Treatments Options
Flowchart 2
Flowchart 2
Relationship of Sleep-Related Issues
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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