Sleep in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is often associated with sleep disturbances. In this review, we focus on the published literature on subjective and objective findings of sleep in patients with PTSD. Insomnia and nightmares are most commonly reported subjective sleep disturbances. Polysomnographic investigations have frequently reported rapid eye movement (REM) sleep abnormalities in PTSD. However, studies have not been consistent about the type of REM sleep dysfunction in PTSD patients. Antidepressants such as nefazodone, trazodone, fluvoxamine, and imagery rehearsal therapy are found to be beneficial in the treatment of PTSD associated sleep disturbances as well as core symptoms of this anxiety disorder. We propose use of such modalities of treatment in PTSD patients with predominant sleep disturbances. Further studies are required to clarify polysomnographic sleep changes especially role of REM sleep dysregulation and treatment of sleep disturbances in PTSD.     

Sleep and Dreaming in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Purpose of Review

Sleep disturbances are core features of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This review aims to characterize sleep disturbances, summarize the knowledge regarding the relationships between trauma exposure and sleep difficulties, and highlight empirically supported and/or utilized treatments for trauma-related nightmares and insomnia.

Recent Findings

Trauma-related nightmares and insomnia, and other sleep disorders, are frequently reported among trauma survivors. The roles of fear of sleep, REM density, and decreased parasympathetic activity are beginning to inform the relationship between trauma exposure and sleep difficulties. Additionally, the potential adaptive role of sleep loss immediately following a traumatic experience is being recognized. Interventions targeting these sleep disturbances show promise in reducing symptoms.

Summary

Research in understanding the role of sleep on the development, course, and treatment of PTSD is expanding. Longitudinal investigations are needed to further elucidate these relationships and identify treatments most effective in ameliorating symptoms.

     

Trauma and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Patients with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder

Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have high prevalence among individuals with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. This study examined whether trauma and PTSD are under-detected in this population, and whether the cognitive theory of PTSD is applicable to these individuals. Traumatic experiences, PTSD symptoms and negative posttraumatic cognitions were directly measured with questionnaires, and compared to information obtained via chart-review. Results showed clear evidence of under-report of trauma and under-diagnosis of PTSD in patients’ charts. Furthermore, negative posttraumatic cognitions were positively related to PTSD symptom severity, supporting the cognitive model of PTSD. These findings underscore the importance of assessing trauma history as well as PTSD in the routine evaluation of patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder in outpatient clinical settings. Furthermore, the finding of negative posttraumatic cognitions suggests that the cognitive model of PTSD may be applicable to patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.     

Criterion validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale for the diagnosis of sleep disorders

Objectives(1) To examine criterion validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) using obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), and narcolepsy as criterion standard. (2) To summarize the evidence for criterion validity of the ESS for the diagnosis of OSA by a meta-analysis that combines the current and previous studies. (3) To investigate the determinants of the PSQI and ESS scores.MethodsThe PSQI and ESS as well as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), which measures anxiety and depression levels, were administered to 367 patients consecutively referred to a sleep clinic. They underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) and the multiple sleep latency test if narcolepsy was suspected.ResultsThe area under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the ESS and PSQI (and its subscale) were <0.9, meaning that these questionnaires were not highly accurate for predicting the four sleep disorders. The meta-analysis found that the ESS had no value in identifying OSA. The variable that most strongly influenced PSQI or ESS scores was the HADS score.ConclusionThe PSQI and ESS should no longer be used as a screening or diagnostic instrument for the four PSG-defined sleep disorders, especially in a low-risk population.     

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research

Despite the prevalence of sleep complaints among psychiatric patients, few questionnaires have been specifically designed to measure sleep quality in clinical populations. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a self-rated questionnaire which assesses sleep quality and disturbances over a 1-month time interval. Nineteen individual items generate seven "component" scores: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction. The sum of scores for these seven components yields one global score. Clinical and clinimetric properties of the PSQI were assessed over an 18-month period with "good" sleepers (healthy subjects, n = 52) and "poor" sleepers (depressed patients, n = 54; sleep-disorder patients, n = 62). Acceptable measures of internal homogeneity, consistency (test-retest reliability), and validity were obtained. A global PSQI score greater than 5 yielded a diagnostic sensitivity of 89.6% and specificity of 86.5% (kappa = 0.75, p less than 0.001) in distinguishing good and poor sleepers. The clinimetric and clinical properties of the PSQI suggest its utility both in psychiatric clinical practice and research activities.     

Pet-Facilitated Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

It is suggested that pet-facilitated therapy might be a useful adjuvant on treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder. Some motivation and rationale for this idea is given, and a discussion of method of testing it.     

Association of Acute Coronary Syndrome-Induced Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms with Self-Reported Sleep

Background

Symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) are associated with recurrent ACS events and mortality. Poor sleep may be a mechanism, but the association between PTSD and sleep after ACS is unknown.

Purpose

This study aims to estimate the association between ACS-induced PTSD symptoms and self-reported sleep.

Methods

ACS-induced PTSD symptoms were assessed 1-month post-ACS in 188 adults using the Impact of Events Scale-Revised. Sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Linear and logistic regression models were used to determine whether PTSD symptoms were associated with self-reported sleep, independent of sociodemographic and clinical covariates.

Results

In adjusted models, ACS-induced PTSD symptoms were associated with worse overall sleep (β?=?0.22, p?=?0.003) and greater impairment in six of seven components of sleep (all p values <0.05).

Conclusions

ACS-induced PTSD symptoms may be associated with poor sleep, which may explain why PTSD confers increased cardiovascular risk after ACS.     

A brief self-rating scale for PTSD after road vehicle accident

The Accident Fear Questionnaire (AFQ) is a new self-rated scale for PTSD and “accident phobia” (subsyndromal PTSD) after road vehicle accident (RVA). AFQ data from 54 RVA survivors were compared with two clinician-rated and three self-report measures of psychopathology. Diagnoses were based on the DSM-III-R structured clinical interview for PTSD and on DSM-III-R criteria for specific phobia. Diagnostic groups were similar in regards to demographic variables, duration of illness, measures of pain, self-rated physical impairment, and duration of illness. The AFQ had good internal consistency with a Crohnbach's alpha of 0.89 and yielded the largest group differences between PTSD (n = 12), “accident phobia” (n = 14), and neither diagnosis (n = 28). Subjects with PTSD tended to score highest on all self-report measures of psychopathology, followed by “accident phobics”, followed by subjects with neither diagnosis. On the AFQ, this order of severity was preserved after subjects with major depression had been removed from the analysis. Lacking effects from depression and from pain suggest that the AFQ is a specific measure of RVA-related phobic avoidance.     

Smaller Hippocampal Volume in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Multisite ENIGMA-PGC Study: Subcortical Volumetry Results From Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Consortia

Background

Many studies report smaller hippocampal and amygdala volumes in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but findings have not always been consistent. Here, we present the results of a large-scale neuroimaging consortium study on PTSD conducted by the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC)–Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) PTSD Working Group.

Vividness of mental imagery in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): The role of depression

The present study aimed to investigate demographics, trauma variables, PTSD symptomatology, co-morbid psychopathology, dissociation and personality variables as correlates of vividness of imagery (i.e. general ability to imagine objects) in people with PTSD. Participants were 98 outpatients with PTSD who completed a number of self- and assessor-rated measures. Vividness of imagery was assessed using the Betts' Questionnaire Upon Imagery (QMI). Regression analysis showed that the only statistically significant predictor of mental imagery was depression, as measured by the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). The implications of these results for the management of depression in people with PTSD are discussed.     

Test-retest reliability and validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in primary insomnia

OBJECTIVE: Psychometric evaluation of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for primary insomnia. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 80 patients with primary insomnia (DSM-IV). The length of the test-retest interval was either 2 days or several weeks. Validity analyses were calculated for PSQI data and data from sleep diaries, as well as polysomnography. To evaluate the specificity of the PSQI, insomnia patients were compared with a control group of 45 healthy subjects. RESULTS: In primary insomnia patients, the overall PSQI global score correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability was .87. Validity analyses showed high correlations between PSQI and sleep log data and lower correlations with polysomnography data. A PSQI global score > 5 resulted in a sensitivity of 98.7 and specificity of 84.4 as a marker for sleep disturbances in insomnia patients versus controls. CONCLUSION: The PSQI has a high test-retest reliability and a good validity for patients with primary insomnia.     

A Model of Patients' Satisfaction with Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

There is little empirical knowledge about the contribution of treatment effectiveness to patient satisfaction, particularly in the area of mental health. We conducted this study to assess the satisfaction of 3,646 veterans who received treatment from March 1996–April 1997 at specialized inpatient and residential posttraumatic stress disorder programs at Departments of Veterans Affairs in 35 locations. We used structural equation modeling to evaluate and extend a model of connections among pretreatment characteristics, treatment structure, treatment effectiveness and patient satisfaction. The results suggest three implications for mental health administration and program planning: (1) any valid comparison of programs requires that differences in patient characteristics be taken into account, (2) satisfaction and effectiveness are largely separate indices of quality, and (3) shortening the length of stay to contain cost is likely to lower patient satisfaction.