A report from The Times of India indicates sleep disturbances such as insomnia are very common following accidents that cause a traumatic brain injury.
Injuries suffered in an accident could lead to insomnia. Also, such patients complain of daytime fatigue, mood and memory problems, and reduced participation in activities of daily living. Road accidents happen frequently in the city, but minor accidents go without much attention. But, patients suffering from head injuries – traumatic brain injury (TBI) could face a difficult life.
“Sleep disturbances such as insomnia are very common following traumatic brain injury and have been reported in substantially high frequency. Sleep disruption may be related to TBI itself or secondary to neuropsychiatric or neuromuscular conditions associated with TBI,” Dr Akhilesh Jain, senior specialist and head of the psychiatry department, ESIC model hospital, said.
Studies suggest two component model of insomnia. First injury itself could change brain biochemistry or anatomy like disruption of neurotransmitters involved in modulation of sleep in a way that individual will be predisposed to insomnia. Another way could be various stressors associated with TBI that could increase insomnia symptoms, Dr Jain said.
