Nonnightmare distressed awakenings in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: response to prazosin.
Twenty-two veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed for trauma-related nightmares and nonnightmare distressed awakenings (NNDA) before and after treatment with the alpha-1 adrenoreceptor antagonist prazosin at an average bedtime dose of 9.6 mg/day. Ratings combining frequency and intensity dimensions of trauma-related nightmares decreased from 3.6 to 2.2, NNDA from 5.2 to 2.1, and sleep difficulty from 7.2 to 4.1 per week. These results suggest that increased brain adrenergic activity may contribute to the pathophysiology of both trauma-related nightmares and NNDA in PTSD.
Thompson
Charles E
CE
VA Northwest Network, Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Seattle, WA 98108, USA.
Taylor
Fletcher B
FB
McFall
Miles E
ME
Barnes
Robert F
RF
Raskind
Murray A
MA
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004325:Dreams / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D011224:Prazosin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D011224:Prazosin