Prevalence of sleep disturbances, disorders, and problems following traumatic brain injury: A meta-analysis
Abstract
Background Sleep is often disrupted following a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which may compromise recovery and quality of life. Prevalence rates vary widely, reflecting differences in the criteria and measures that are used to assess sleep, as well as sample differences. This meta-analysis examined the prevalence of general and specific, and formally and informally diagnosed, sleep disturbances following TBI in order to establish the nature and extent of these sequelae and their potential impact on recovery. Methods Data from 21 studies, which assessed (1) sleep disturbances, regardless of type or severity, (2) diagnosed sleep disorders, and (3) specific sleep problems following TBI, were analyzed and compared to data for the general population. Results Overall, 50% of people suffered from some form of sleep disturbance after a TBI and 25-29% had a diagnosed sleep disorder (insomnia, hypersomnia, apnea) - rates that are much higher than those seen in the general population. They were also two to four times more likely to experience problems with sleep maintenance and efficiency, nightmares, excessive sleepiness, early awakenings, and sleep walking. Conclusion Sleep disturbances are very common after TBI and have the potential to seriously undermine patient rehabilitation, recovery, and outcomes; making it important to routinely screen for such problems in order to assess both treatment needs and their potential impact on recovery and outcome.
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TBI patients experience sleep disorders at higher rates than the general population.
“TBI patients experience sleep disorders at higher rates than in the general population,16 suggesting that sleep disorders can occur as a result of head injury.”
From Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury on the Orexin/Hypocretin System (2025) · cites this paper as [16]
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- Authors
- Mathias, J. L., & Alvaro, P. K.
- Affiliations
- The University of Adelaide (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Mathias, J.L.
- ORCID
- Mathias, J.L.
- Venue
- Sleep Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-08
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 898-905
- ISSN
- 1389-9457 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1975782323
- Cited by
- 506
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 41 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 58 · 2019: 48 · 2018: 45 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 37 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 17 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 3.70
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Sleep Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Traumatic Brain Injury Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances
- Keywords
- traumatic brain injury, sleep disorders, insomnia, hypersomnia, sleep apnea, sleep maintenance, nightmares, excessive sleepiness, early morning awakening, sleepwalking, prevalence, sleep screening, recovery
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Brain Injuries, Female, Humans, Disorders of Excessive Somnolence, Male, Narcolepsy, Sleep Wake Disorders, Injury Severity Score, Prevalence, Sleep Apnea, Obstructive, Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome
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