Sleep disturbance and baroreceptor sensitivity in women with posttraumatic stress disorder.
In a previous study, women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) had greater objective sleep disturbance than those without PTSD. In a separate previous study, women with PTSD were also found to have lower baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS), an index of blood pressure regulation. In the present study, the authors concurrently assessed BRS and objective sleep by diagnostic status. A comparison of 32 women with PTSD with 21 women without PTSD revealed an interaction between BRS and sleep efficiency, wake after sleep onset percentage, and sleep fragmentation. Lower BRS was associated with poorer sleep in women with PTSD, but not in those without. Future research should investigate causal relationships between sleep and blood pressure regulation in those with PTSD.
Ulmer
Christi S
CS
Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27705, USA. christi.ulmer@va.gov
Calhoun
Patrick S
PS
Edinger
Jack D
JD
Wagner
H Ryan
HR
Beckham
Jean C
JC
D056044:Actigraphy; D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011311:Pressoreceptors / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000502:physiology