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Simultaneous Application of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation during Virtual Reality Exposure
Published on: January 18, 2021
Sleep, PTSD, and suicide risk in U.S. veterans
Sara Kintzle1, Leonidas Marin2, Eva Alday1
1Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
Frontiers in Sleep
|July 10, 2026
Summary
Military service stress impacts mental health and sleep, increasing suicide risk in veterans. Addressing sleep issues is crucial for suicide prevention efforts in this population.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Health
- Sleep Medicine
- Military Psychology
Background:
- Military service is linked to persistent mental health and sleep issues.
- Understanding these challenges is vital for supporting veterans' well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the associations between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), sleep disturbance, and suicide risk in U.S. veterans.
- To investigate direct and indirect pathways linking PTSD, sleep, and suicide risk.
Main Methods:
- Online survey data from 3,188 Southern California veterans.
- Utilized the SBQ-R to measure suicide risk (ideation, behaviors, attempts).
- Employed structural equation modeling to analyze direct and indirect effects.
Main Results:
- PTSD and sleep problems showed significant direct effects on suicide risk.
- A significant indirect effect of PTSD on suicide risk was found through the sleep pathway.
- The model explained 55.3% of variance in sleep difficulties and 29.9% in suicide risk.
Conclusions:
- Sleep problems are directly and indirectly associated with suicide risk in veterans.
- Findings highlight the importance of assessing and treating sleep problems within veteran suicide prevention models.
- Results inform practitioners and policymakers on integrated care approaches for veterans.
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