A Review of Assessment of Sleep Disruption in Adults Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Sleep disruptions are prevalent following head injury, but are presently poorly understood. The current paper examines literature that pertains to assessment of sleep function during acute, intermediate and chronic periods following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Review of the literature indicates that initial assessment was focused on primarily self-report measures, which may have psychometric limitations. Many of the findings from previous studies are not directly comparable, as there is significant heterogeneity between sample populations. However, more recent focus on objective measures such as overnight Polysomnography (PSG), Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) and ambulatory measurements such as actigraphy during multiple time periods post-injury has the potential for further identification and classification of patients with significant sleep disruption following TBI and holds promise in assisting with the treatment of identifiable sleep disorders. The development of state of the art assessment techniques should ultimately assist with evolution of the identification and management of sleep disorders that are related to TBI.