International Journal of Health Sciences & Research (www.ijhsr.org) 380 Vol.7; Issue: 4; April 2017 International Journal of Health Sciences and Research www.ijhsr.org ISSN: 2249-9571 Original Research Article The Influence of Sleep Disorders and Nightmares on Mental Health: A Study of Former Kurdish Peshmerga in Resettlement Countries Fatahi N 1,2 , Krupic F 1,3 1 Institute of health and care sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. 2 Department of Radiology, 3 Department of Orthopaedics, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Corresponding Author: Fatahi N ABSTRACT Background: Sleep disorders and nightmares are often rooted in post-traumatic stress and have a significant impact on the quality of mental health. There is an obvious relationship between war trauma and a higher frequency of nightmares and insomnia symptoms. Aim: To study sleep disorders among former Kurdish Peshmerga (soldiers) and its impact on their mental health. Material and Methods: Five focus group interviews were conducted with 24 former Peshmerga in Scandinavian countries, between December 2014 and April 2015. The majority were males (n=19) aged between 32-62 years (M= 51.6 years) but some were females (n=5) aged 41-58 years (M=49.3 years). They had lived in Sweden between 16 and 40 years. A qualitative content analysis method was used for analysis and interpretation of the collected data. Results: Former Kurdish Peshmerga reported a number of difficulties related to sleep disorders. The impact of insomnia and nightmares on the participants‟ mental health was indicated. Difficulty falling asleep and nightmares were two main areas that were mentioned as problematic by the participants. The impact of the sleep disorders in daily life and its impact on psychological health were addressed by the participants in the present study. Conclusion: Decreased mental health among former Kurdish Peshmerga was related to sleep disorders rooted in post-traumatic stress disorder. Difficulty falling asleep and nightmares negatively affected the participants‟ daily lives and their mental health. Key words: Sleep disorder, mental health war trauma, Kurdish Peshmerga, nightmare INTRODUCTION Since World War I, sleep disorders and nightmares have been addressed as complications of war trauma that affect human beings and their mental health. The relationship between war trauma and insomnia has been indicated by previous studies. [1,2] Nightmares that are often rooted in post-traumatic stress influence the quality of sleep, as well as physical, psychosocial and mental health. [3,4] In a study of war veterans in Finland, a higher frequency of nightmares and symptoms of insomnia, depression and anxiety have been reported by participants with war experiences compared to participants without such experiences. [5] According to a study about Gulf War veterans, there is a strong association between war trauma and poor sleep quality, as well as depression and psychological distress. [2]