0673 Sleep in PTSD: A Subjective Concern

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Sleep complaints are a hallmark of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Prior studies examining sleep abnormalities in PTSD are inconsistent, with some reporting objective sleep changes including associated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), possibly due to moderating variables including advancing age, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and medications. We sought to compare sleep disorders and objective and subjective sleep metrics in service members with and without PTSD while controlling for these potential confounders. Methods Case-controlled observational cohort study performed at an academic military sleep center. Detailed sleep history, sleep-related questionnaires, trauma history, and video-polysomnography was performed. Patients with a history of TBI, abnormal neuroimaging, or psychoactive medication use (antidepressants, antipsychotics, anxiolytics) were excluded. Results Patients (N=169, 124 males) were active duty service members (median age 37.1 years) reporting a sleep complaint. Of these, 43 (25.4%) had PTSD vs 126 (74.6%) without PTSD. In patients with PTSD vs no PTSD, there was no significant difference in the rate of OSA, mean total sleep time, sleep efficiency, mean apnea-hypopnea index, sleep stage percentage, or any other polysomnogram (PSG) variable. Stage N3 sleep was non-significantly increased in patients with PTSD (18% vs 14%, p=0.078). Subjective sleepiness was similar between those with and without PTSD (Epworth Sleepiness Score 12.9 vs 11.9, p=0.35). However, subjective insomnia symptoms (Insomnia Severity Index 20.4 vs 15.2, p< 0.0001) and perceived sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index 15.4 vs 11.1, p< 0.0001) were worse in those with PTSD vs no PTSD. Conclusion In a relatively young active duty cohort with no history of psychoactive medication use or TBI, patients with PTSD had more subjective sleep complaints than those without PTSD but objective sleep parameters, including PSG variables and OSA rate, did not differ significantly. The higher stage N3 (slow wave) sleep percentage, though not statistically significant, suggests that PTSD patients sleep better in a monitored sleep lab than in their habitual sleeping environment. Support (if any)