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Study objectives To examine whether subtypes of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) user profiles could be identified, and to determine predictors of CPAP subgroup membership. Design A retrospective, correlational approach was used. Subjects attended clinic where a CPAP download was performed and questionnaires were completed. Additional information was obtained from the electronic medical record. Setting Miami VA Sleep Clinic. Participants Obstructive sleep apnea patients (N = 207). Measurements Three adherence variables comprised the profile: % of nights of CPAP use, % of nights of CPAP use > 4 hours and average nightly use in minutes. Predictors included age, AHI, time since CPAP therapy was initiated, CPAP pressure, residual AHI, BMI, social-cognitive variables, insomnia, sleepiness, and psychiatric and medical comorbidities. Results Latent profile analysis was used to identify CPAP user profiles. Three subgroups were identified and labeled “Non-Adherers,” “Attempters,” and “Adherers”. Non-Adherers (37.6% of the sample) used CPAP for an average of 37 minutes nightly, used CPAP 18.2% of nights and used CPAP > 4 hour 6.2 % of nights. Attempters (32.9%) used CPAP for 156 minutes on average, used CPAP 68.2% of nights and used CPAP > 4 hour 29.3% of nights. Adherers (29.5%) used CPAP for 392 minutes, used CPAP 95.4% of nights and used CPAP >4 hour 86.2% of nights. Self-efficacy, insomnia, AHI, time since CPAP was initiated, and CPAP pressure predicted CPAP subgroup membership. Conclusion Sixty-seven percent of users (Non-Adherers, Attempters) had suboptimal adherence. Understanding CPAP use profiles and their predictors enable identification of those who may require additional intervention to improve adherence.

Objective : To evaluate the psychometric properties of the DBAS-10, a recently proposed abbreviated version of the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes About Sleep Scale (DBAS). Population : Two hundred and eleven (69 normal sleepers; 142 insomnia suffers) middle-aged and older adults (age 40–79 years) drawn from two separate cohorts of research volunteers. Method : Volunteers in the first cohort (69 normal sleepers; 69 insomnia sufferers) completed the full DBAS on one occasion. Volunteers in the second cohort (73 insomnia sufferers) completed the full DBAS prior to treatment and at multiple subsequent time points to assess treatment-related changes. A series of statistical tests were conducted with one or both cohorts to investigate the comparability of the DBAS-10 and full DBAS, the internal consistency of each instrument, the factor structure of the DBAS-10, and the validity of this instrument. Results : Statistical findings showed that the DBAS-10 correlated highly with the full DBAS, had respectable internal consistency, effectively discriminated normal sleepers from insomnia sufferers, and detected cognitive changes resulting specifically from CBT intervention. Although factor analysis empirically identified three conceptually meaningful DBAS-10 subscales, the subscale structure varied somewhat from previous factor analytic findings with this instrument. Conclusions : The DBAS-10 generally appears to have very acceptable psychometric properties although subscales previously proposed for this instrument may vary across research populations. Nonetheless, results encourage the use of this instrument in studies concerned with the nature and treatment of sleep-disruptive cognitions.

Background There is limited data on chronic insomnia in Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans, in whom post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) often co-exist. Our aim was to compare sleep characteristics of three groups of OEF/OIF veterans: (1) healthy sleepers (HS), (2) those with insomnia associated with PTSD and mTBI (PTSD–mTBI), and (3) those with insomnia associated with PTSD alone. Methods Consecutive veterans with insomnia complaints (>6 months) were recruited over 6 months from the Miami VA Post Deployment clinic. Participants completed a sleep disorders clinical interview, medical history, and questionnaires about insomnia, sleepiness, pain, fatigue, depression, PTSD, and health-related quality of life. They underwent polysomnography (PSG) with 2 weeks of actigraphy (ACT) and sleep diaries. Results There were no differences in demographics or most questionnaire responses between PTSD and PTSD–mTBI groups. Subjective daytime sleepiness was significantly greater in PTSD–mTBI subjects compared with HS and PTSD participants. Significant co-morbid sleep disorders were noted in insomnia patients. PSG and ACT wake after sleep onset was significantly shorter in PTSD–mTBI subjects as compared with PTSD participants. Conclusion Insomnia patients with PTSD–mTBI were subjectively sleepier despite spending less time awake during the night than PTSD subjects, possibly as a consequence of head trauma.