Study Findings on Military and Defense Detailed by a Researcher at Naval Health Research Center (Outpatient Prescriptions for Insomnia Medications During the First Year Following Combat-Related Amputations).

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Naval Health Research Center in San Diego, California, examined outpatient prescriptions for insomnia medications during the first year following combat-related amputations. The study found that 78% of patients (1,291 out of 1,651) had prescriptions for insomnia medications, primarily anxiolytic sedative drugs. The prevalence of these prescriptions decreased over time, from 57% in the first quarter to 28% in the fourth quarter post-injury. Patient characteristics such as high Injury Severity Score, continued opioid and non-opioid analgesic prescriptions, and diagnoses of chronic pain, mood disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder were associated with higher prevalence and duration of prescriptions. The study suggests that there is a need for more research on the treatment of insomnia during early post-injury rehabilitation among patients who sustained serious combat injuries. [Extracted from the article]