1065 A Bout of Sleep Apnea or a Posttrauma Nightmare Occurrence?

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The enigmatic nature of Posttrauma Nightmares (PTNs) has left research without an agreed upon operational definition. This is partially due to PTNs often containing well remembered content that is similar to the triggering trauma, but also manifesting as severe nighttime awakenings without a concise or remembered dream narrative. Given that recent research has linked episodes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) to PTNs, this study aimed to examine if OSA could explain why some distressed awakenings occur without memory of nightmare content. Methods Participants included 36 trauma survivors who reported experiencing PTNs, recruited from a clinical referral or at a Veterans Affairs Hospital. Presence of OSA was captured from self-reports of previous polysomnography-based sleep study results. PTNs were measured via a self-report measure that assessed past month nightmare frequency and if the content was remembered upon awakening. Analysis included descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Results Out of the group with a reported diagnosis of OSA (N = 8), 75% (n = 6) reported they did not remember the content of their nightmares upon awakening, whereas out of the group without a reported OSA diagnosis (N = 28), only 4% of participants (n = 1) reported not remembering the content of their nightmares. There was a significant difference between OSA diagnosis and remembering nightmare content (X2 = 57.83, p < 0.001). Conclusion Individuals with diagnosed OSA commonly experienced nightmares that were often not remembered upon awakening, while the group without OSA most often remembered the content of their nightmares. Due to this relationship, it is possible that some PTNs experienced by the OSA group may instead be misinterpreted respiratory events. Understanding the relationship between OSA and PTNs is crucial for developing the most effective treatment course. Support None.