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BMC Psychiatry

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01-12-2020 | Post Traumatic Stress Disorder | Research article

Post traumatic stress symptom variation associated with sleep characteristics

Authors: Quinn M. Biggs, Robert J. Ursano, Jing Wang, Gary H. Wynn, Russell B. Carr, Carol S. Fullerton

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sleep problems are highly related. The relationship between nighttime sleep characteristics and next day post traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) is not well known. This study examined the relationship between the previous night’s sleep duration, number of awakenings, sleep quality, trouble falling asleep, and difficulty staying asleep and PTSS the following day.

Methods

Using an ecological momentary assessment methodology, individuals with probable PTSD (N = 61) reported their nighttime sleep characteristics daily and PTSS four times per day for 15 days. Univariate and multivariate linear mixed models were used to examine the previous night’s (within-subjects) and person’s mean (between-subjects) associations between sleep characteristics and PTSS.

Results

The previous night’s sleep duration (p < .001), sleep quality (p < .001), trouble falling asleep (p < .001), and difficulty staying asleep (p < .001) significantly predicted the next day’s PTSS. When examined in a multivariate model including all characteristics simultaneously, previous night’s sleep duration (p = .024), trouble falling asleep (p = .019), and difficulty staying asleep (p < .001) continued to predict PTSS, but sleep quality (p = .667) did not. When considering a person’s mean, trouble falling asleep (p = .006) and difficulty staying asleep (p = .001) predicted PTSS, but only difficulty staying asleep (p = .018) predicted PTSS in a multivariate model.

Conclusions

Among individuals with PTSD, the previous night’s sleep duration, trouble falling asleep, and difficulty staying asleep predict next day PTSD symptoms. Interventions that facilitate falling and staying asleep and increase time slept may be important for treating PTSD.

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Title: Post traumatic stress symptom variation associated with sleep characteristics
Authors: Quinn M. Biggs
Robert J. Ursano
Jing Wang
Gary H. Wynn
Russell B. Carr
Carol S. Fullerton
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Published in: BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-020-02550-y

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Post traumatic stress symptom variation associated with sleep characteristics

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

2024 ASCO Annual Meeting

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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