title: Polysomnographically measured sleep abnormalities in PTSD: a meta-analytic review.
abstract: Although sleep complaints are common among patients with Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), polysomnographic studies examining sleep abnormalities in PTSD have produced inconsistent results. To clarify discrepant findings, we conducted a meta-analytic review of 20 polysomnographic studies comparing sleep in people with and without PTSD. Results showed that PTSD patients had more stage 1 sleep, less slow wave sleep, and greater rapid-eye-movement density compared to people without PTSD. We also conducted exploratory analyses aimed at examining potential moderating variables (age, sex, and comorbid depression and substance use disorders). Overall, studies with a greater proportion of male participants or a low rate of comorbid depression tended to find more PTSD-related sleep disturbances. These findings suggest that sleep abnormalities exist in PTSD, and that some of the inconsistencies in prior findings may be explained by moderating variables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA. ikobayas@kent.edu
authors.forename: Ihori
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Jessica M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Boarts
authors.forename: Douglas L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Delahanty
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D012737:Sex Factors; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*