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BMC Psychiatry

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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Research article

Daily variation in sleep characteristics in individuals with and without post traumatic stress disorder

Authors: Quinn M. Biggs, Robert J. Ursano, Jing Wang, Gary H. Wynn, Rohul Amin, Carol S. Fullerton

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Sleep disturbances are common in individuals with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, little is known about how daily variation in sleep characteristics is related to PTSD. This study examined the night-to-night and weekday versus weekend variation in sleep duration, sleep quality, trouble falling asleep, and difficulty staying asleep in individuals with and without PTSD.

Methods

Participants (N = 157; 80 with PTSD, 77 without PTSD) completed daily self-reports of their nighttime sleep characteristics for 15 consecutive days. Linear mixed models were used to examine the associations between the 7 days of the week and weekday versus weekend variation in sleep characteristics and PTSD.

Results

Individuals with PTSD reported shorter sleep duration, lower sleep quality, more trouble falling asleep, and more difficulty staying asleep than individuals without PTSD. The pattern of change across the week and between weekdays and weekends was different between those with and without PTSD for sleep quality and trouble falling asleep. Among those with PTSD, sleep duration, sleep quality, and trouble falling asleep differed across the 7 days of the week and showed differences between weekdays and weekends. For those without PTSD, only sleep duration differed across the 7 days of the week and showed differences between weekdays and weekends. Neither group showed 7 days of the week nor weekday versus weekend differences in difficulty staying asleep.

Conclusions

On average those with PTSD had shorter sleep duration, poorer sleep quality, and greater trouble falling and staying asleep. In particular, the day of week variation in sleep quality and trouble falling asleep specifically distinguishes those with PTSD from those without PTSD. Our findings suggest that clinical care might be improved by assessments of sleep patterns and disturbances across at least a week, including weekdays and weekends. Future studies should explore the mechanisms related to the patterns of sleep disturbance among those with PTSD.

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Title: Daily variation in sleep characteristics in individuals with and without post traumatic stress disorder
Authors: Quinn M. Biggs
Robert J. Ursano
Jing Wang
Gary H. Wynn
Rohul Amin
Carol S. Fullerton
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03282-3

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Daily variation in sleep characteristics in individuals with and without post traumatic stress disorder

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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