Pilot Test of Apnea and Insomnia Relief for Veterans with Gulf War Illness
Abstract
Insomnia is a common symptom of Gulf War Illness (GWI) that can exacerbate other non-sleep GWI symptoms such as fatigue, pain, mood, cognitive dysfunction. We previously demonstrated that helping Veterans with GWI overcome insomnia with cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) not only improved sleep, but also alleviated non-sleep GWI symptoms (i.e., fatigue, cognitive failures, depression, and anxiety). We have also shown that Veterans with GWI are at greater risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) compared to Veterans without GWI. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard therapy for OSA, and there is evidence that CPAP therapy can reduce symptoms of fatigue, pain, and cognitive dysfunction in Veterans with GWI and sleep disordered breathing. OSA is commonly co-morbid with insomnia and OSA together with insomnia can decrease CPAP adherence, which can negatively impact treatment and outcomes. This study will investigate whether treating OSA and insomnia in tandem will reduce GWI symptoms and improve quality of life in GW Veterans with comorbid GWI, insomnia, and OSA.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1190889
Entities
People
- Linda L Chao
Organizations
- Northern California Institute for Research and Education