Post-traumatic Sleep Disturbance Research Articles

Veteran treatment completers’ and facilitators’ perceptions of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and imagery rehearsal therapy for posttraumatic sleep disturbances.

Veteran treatment completers’ and facilitators’ perceptions of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and imagery rehearsal therapy for posttraumatic sleep disturbances.

0660 Identifying Patients at Risk of Acute Sleep Disturbances Within the Immediate Aftermath of Trauma

Abstract Introduction Acute sleep disturbances are a common, modifiable consequence of trauma that, if left untreated, increase risk of PTSD by nearly two-fold. This suggests acute sleep disturbances after trauma are an important contributor to the etiology of PTSD that could be targeted early to prevent the disorder. Yet, effective strategies to prevent PTSD cannot currently be implemented because we cannot identify who is most at risk of acute sleep disturbances after trauma, thus obstructing the ability to identify high-risk groups in need of early intervention. This study will test sleep reactivity – a trait predisposition to experience sleep disturbances after stress – as a predictor of posttraumatic sleep disturbances within one month following trauma exposure. Methods We recruited patients admitted to Henry Ford Hospital’s intensive care unit in Detroit for traumatic injury (e.g., gunshot wound) (N = 88, M age = 39.53, SD = 14.31). While hospitalized, patients reported their pre-trauma sleep reactivity (Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test; FIRST) and insomnia symptoms from the past two weeks (Insomnia Severity Index; ISI). Patients then completed the ISI again one month later (n = 48). We tested high sleep reactivity (FIRST > 21) as a prospective predictor of clinically significant posttraumatic sleep disturbances (ISI > 10). Results Patients were mostly black men (67%), and nearly half reported an annual income < $20,000 (47.7%). Motor vehicle collisions were the most common trauma that precipitated patients’ hospital admission (42%), followed by assaults with a weapon (30.7%). While adjusting for age and pre-trauma sleep disturbance, high sleep reactivity predicted increased odds of sleep disturbances one month after trauma (b = 2.08, SE = .98, p = .033, OR = 8.01, CI = 1.19 – 54.15). Conclusion Individuals with high sleep reactivity are at increased susceptibility of clinically significant sleep disturbances after trauma. The 9-item FIRST is a brief and clinically useful indicator that offers providers the ability to predict the onset of acute sleep disturbances after trauma, which are novel targets for early intervention. This might enable the early identification of potentially vulnerable individuals who might develop PTSD, toward whom sleep-focused preventive efforts can be targeted. Support (if any)

Longitudinal associations between hair cortisol, PTSD symptoms, and sleep disturbances in a sample of firefighters with duty-related trauma exposure

Several studies have found evidence of altered cortisol levels in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Based on these findings, it is assumed that these patients may show signs of cortisol dysregulation after trauma. Posttrauma cortisol levels are thus considered a potential biomarker of PTSD. However, longitudinal studies using indicators of long-term cortisol secretion such as hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) are scarce. The current study investigated prospective associations between HCC and PTSD symptoms in a sample of Dutch firefighters taking into account varying levels of work-related trauma severity. In addition, we assessed posttraumatic sleep disturbances as a secondary outcome measure to investigate whether effects generalize to this frequent comorbidity of PTSD. Three hundred seventy-one Dutch firefighters with a mean of 14.01 years of work experience were included in the analyses. Baseline assessment included the collection of hair samples and the measurement of work-related trauma severity, PTSD symptoms, and sleep disturbances. PTSD symptoms and sleep disturbance were re-assessed after six and twelve months. Multilevel analyses indicate a significant positive correlation between HCC and baseline PTSD symptoms in those with average or above-average work-related trauma severity. A similar pattern was evident for posttraumatic sleep disturbances at baseline. Moreover, higher HCC predicted more posttraumatic sleep disturbances after 6 months in participants with above-average work-related trauma severity. No other associations emerged for PTSD symptoms or posttraumatic sleep disturbances at six or twelve months. As such, our study supports the existence of a cross-sectional association between HCC and trauma symptoms, which may vary for different levels of subjective trauma severity. The longitudinal stability of this association should be reinvestigated by future research.

1071 Subjective Measures Of Hyperarousal Predict Subjective Longitudinal And Retrospective Measures Of Sleep Quality In Individuals Exposed To Trauma

Abstract Introduction Hyperarousal and disturbed sleep are intrinsic symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We explored whether self-reported indices of hyperarousal predict longitudinally measured objective, subjective, and retrospective evaluations of sleep quality in trauma-exposed individuals. Methods Individuals exposed to a DSM-5 PTSD Criterion-A traumatic event within the past two years (N=130, 91 females), aged 18-40 (mean 24.43, SD 5.30), 51.54% of whom met DSM-5 criteria for PTSD, completed 14 days of actigraphy and sleep diaries. Participants also completed the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5), published Hyperarousal (HAS) and Hypervigilance (HVQ) scales, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (N=108-125 for different scales). Mean total sleep time (TST), sleep onset latency (SOL), sleep efficiency (SE) and sleep midpoint were calculated from actigraphy and subjective SOL, SE, number of awakenings, and time spent awake from diaries. Simple regressions were used to predict associations of the PCL-5, HAS, and HVQ scores with measures of sleep quality. Results Hyperarousal indices predicted diary but not actigraphy measures of sleep quality. Longer diary-reported SOL was predicted by higher scores for: PCL-5 total score (R=0.290, p=0.001), PCL-5 hyperarousal items without the sleep item (R=0.261, p=0.004), and HAS without sleep items (R=0.220, p=0.016). Diary-reported number of awakenings and wake time after sleep onset were predicted by higher HAS scores without the sleep question: (R=0.373, p<0.001; r=0.352, p<0.001). Similarly, all hyperarousal indices significantly predicted PSQI global score (PCL-5: R=0.482, p<0.001; PCL-5 hyperarousal: R=0.389, p<0.001; HVQ: R=0.214, p=0.017; HAS without sleep question: R=0.415, p<0.001). Conclusion Self-reported hyperarousal measures predict subjective longitudinal (especially SOL) and retrospective measures, but not objective measurements of sleep quality. Similar discrepancies between self-reported and objective measures of sleep quality have been reported in patients with insomnia disorder. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia may be especially effective in treating post-traumatic sleep disturbances. Support R01MH109638

Sleep Parameters and Overnight Urinary Melatonin Production in Children With Persistent Post-concussion Symptoms

BackgroundSleep disturbance is common after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in children, yet its biology is poorly understood. We aimed to explore sleep-related problems (SRPs), sleep-activity patterns, and endogenous melatonin production in children with different recovery trajectories following mTBI. We hypothesized that children with delayed recovery would have more SRPs and abnormal sleep-activity patterns, which would correlate with lower overnight melatonin production. MethodsIn this prospective controlled cohort study, we enrolled 83 children with persistent symptoms, 26 children who had clinically recovered following mTBI, and 25 healthy controls. SRPs were evaluated using the sleep subscale of the Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory. Sleep actigraphy was performed for five to seven days at 37 (S.D. 7) days post-injury. Health-related quality of life and mood disturbance was assessed using the Child Health Questionnaire and the Behavior Assessment System for Children, respectively. Endogenous melatonin production was assessed using overnight urine collection. ResultsThe groups were similar in age (13.9 [S.D. 2.6] years) and sex (52% female). Regression analysis demonstrated increased SRP in the symptomatic group (9.0; 95% confidence interval: 7.6, 11.1) compared with the recovered group (1.6; 95% confidence interval: 1.0, 2.4) and controls (2.0; 95% confidence intervals: 1.2, 3.2). Actigraphy parameters and urinary melatonin levels were not significantly different between groups. Neither SRPs nor actigraphy parameters correlated with anxiety and depression scores. ConclusionsAlthough children with persistent post-concussion symptoms reported more SRPs, this was not related to actigraphy sleep parameters or melatonin production. Further research is warranted to understand the pathophysiology of post-traumatic sleep disturbance.

Influence of Sleep Disturbance on Global Functioning After Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment.

Chronic insomnia and recurrent nightmares are prominent features of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Evidence from adult research indicates that these sleep disturbances do not respond as well to cognitive-behavioral therapies for PTSD and are associated with poorer functional outcomes. This study examined the effect of prolonged exposure therapy for adolescents versus client-centered therapy on posttraumatic sleep disturbance, and the extent to which sleep symptoms impacted global functioning among adolescents with sexual abuse-related PTSD. Participants included 61 adolescent girls seeking treatment at a rape crisis center. The Child PTSD Symptom Scale-Interview (Foa, Johnson, Feeny, & Treadwell, 2001) was used to assess PTSD diagnosis and severity of symptoms, including insomnia and nightmares. The Children's Global Assessment Scale (Shaffer etal., 1983) was used to assess global functioning. There were significant main effects of time and treatment on insomnia symptoms. Additionally, there was a main effect of time on nightmares. Results also showed that insomnia and nightmares significantly predicted poorer global functioning posttreatment (R2 = .21). Despite significant improvements in posttraumatic sleep disturbance, there were still clinically significant insomnia symptoms after treatment, suggesting that additional interventions may be warranted to address residual sleep disturbance in PTSD.

Clinical Importance of Sleep Disturbance as a Treatment Target in PTSD

In this review, evidence for the importance of sleep-related disturbances in PTSD as a target for treatment is presented. Examination of efficacy studies of the first-line treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and cognitive behavior therapy—indicates that neither adequately treats PTSD nightmares and insomnia. The published guidelines that recommend these treatments do not provide advice on treating posttraumatic sleep disturbance, suggesting a possible lack of awareness of the problem. Based on clinical reports, imaging, and polysomnographic studies, a theoretical model in which REM dysregulation in PTSD plays a key role in the development and persistence of PTSD will be presented. Finally, evidence regarding the beneficial effects of prazosin and other agents in the treatment of PTSD-related sleep disturbance will be highlighted.

Signs and Symptoms of Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Trauma Survivors

Chronic posttraumatic sleep disturbance may include sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), but this disorder of sleep respiration is usually not suspected in trauma survivors. Sleep breathing signs and symptoms were studied in 178 adults-all with SDB-including typical sleep clinic patients (N = 89) reporting classic snoring and sleepiness and crime victims (N = 89) with insomnia and posttraumatic stress. Significant differences (p < 0.0001) were common between groups. Sleep breathing complaints, loud snoring, marked obesity, and obstructive sleep apnea were prevalent in sleep clinic patients; crime victims reported more insomnia, nightmares, poor sleep quality, leg jerks, cognitive-affective symptoms, psychotropic medication usage, and less snoring but more upper airway resistance syndrome. Both groups reported high rates of fatigue or sleepiness, nocturia, morning dry mouth, and morning headaches. Awareness of these clinical features might enhance detection of SDB among trauma survivors.

Nightmares, insomnia, and sleep-disordered breathing in fire evacuees seeking treatment for posttraumatic sleep disturbance.

Eight months after the Cerro Grande Fire, 78 evacuees seeking treatment for posttraumatic sleep disturbances were assessed for chronic nightmares, psychophysiological insomnia, and sleep-disordered breathing symptoms. Within this sample, 50% of participants were tested objectively for sleep-disordered breathing; 95% of those tested screened positive for sleep-disordered breathing. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that these three sleep disorders accounted for 37% of the variance in posttraumatic stress symptoms, and each sleep disorder was significantly and independently associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms severity. The only systematic variable associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms of avoidance was sleep-disordered breathing. The findings suggest that three common sleep disorders relate to posttraumatic stress symptoms in a more complex manner than explained by the prevailing psychiatric paradigm, which conceptualizes sleep disturbances in PTSD merely as secondary symptoms of psychiatric distress.

To breathe, perchance to sleep: sleep-disordered breathing and chronic insomnia among trauma survivors.

Standard psychiatric classification (DSM-IV-TR) traditionally attributes post-traumatic sleep disturbance to a secondary or symptomatic feature of a primary psychiatric disorder. The DSM-IV-TR paradigm, however, has not been validated with objective sleep assessment technology, incorporated nosological constructs from the field of sleep disorders medicine, or adequately addressed the potential for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) sleep problems to manifest as primary, physical disorders, requiring independent medical assessments and therapies. This paradigm may limit understanding of sleep problems in PTSD by promulgating such terms as "insomnia related to another mental disorder," a.k.a. "psychiatric insomnia." Emerging evidence invites a broader comorbidity perspective, based on recent findings that post-traumatic sleep disturbance frequently manifests with the combination of insomnia and a higher-than-expected prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). In this model of complex sleep disturbance, the underlying sleep pathophysiology interacts with PTSD and related psychiatric distress; and this relationship appears very important as demonstrated by improvement in insomnia, nightmares, and post-traumatic stress with successful SDB treatment, independent of psychiatric interventions. Continuous positive airway pressure treatment in PTSD patients with SDB reduced electroencephalographic arousals and sleep fragmentation, which are usually attributed to central nervous system or psychophysiological processes. Related findings and clinical experience suggest that other types of chronic insomnia may also be related to SDB. We hypothesize that an arousal-based mechanism, perhaps initiated by post-traumatic stress and/or chronic insomnia, may promote the development of SDB in a trauma survivor and perhaps other patients with chronic insomnia. We discuss potential neurohormonal pathways and neuroanatomatical sites that may be involved in this proposed interaction between insomnia and SDB.