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Rates of Sleep Disorders Based on a Structured Clinical Interview in US Active-Duty Military Personnel with Acute
Yiqin Zhu1,2, Kristi E Pruiksma3, Daniel J Taylor4
1Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, USA.
Behavioral Sleep Medicine
|April 29, 2025
Summary
Sleep disorders are highly prevalent in US military personnel at high risk for suicide, with nearly all participants experiencing at least one condition. This highlights the need for targeted sleep disorder assessments and interventions in this vulnerable population.
Area of Science:
- Sleep Medicine
- Military Mental Health
- Suicidology
Background:
- Sleep disorders are frequently reported by individuals at elevated risk for suicide.
- A precise understanding of sleep disorder symptom prevalence and variability in at-risk populations is needed.
- US Active-Duty Military Personnel with acute suicide risk were evaluated for sleep problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively evaluate sleep problems in US Active-Duty Military Personnel experiencing acute suicide risk.
- To identify specific sleep disorder symptoms prevalent in this high-risk military cohort.
- To examine the variability of sleep disorder symptoms within this population.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 40 active-duty, treatment-seeking US Marines with recent suicide ideation, intent, plan, or attempt.
- Administered a structured clinical interview for sleep disorders.
- Utilized self-report questionnaires to assess sleep problems.
Main Results:
- Nearly all participants (97.5%) met criteria for at least one sleep disorder.
- Common sleep disorders included insomnia (75.0%), nightmare disorder (50.0%), and circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders (27.5%).
- Poor sleep efficiency was noted (63.28% weekdays, 69.43% weekends) with limited variability in sleep duration and bedtimes.
Conclusions:
- Sleep problems are highly prevalent in military personnel at high risk for suicide.
- A more precise assessment of sleep disorder symptoms is warranted in this demographic.
- Expanded intervention opportunities for sleep disorders in high-risk service members are necessary.
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