title: Sleep Disturbances in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Updated Review and Implications for Treatment.
abstract: Sleep disturbances are common in adults with PTSD and range from insomnia and nightmares to periodic leg movements and disruptive nocturnal behaviors. Together these findings suggest profound disturbances in rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep, although there is a lack of consensus regarding a distinct profile of objective sleep disturbances associated with PTSD. Prospective, longitudinal studies have established that sleep disturbances represent a risk factor for the development and course of PTSD, suggesting that sleep is an important neurobiological mechanism in the etiology and maintenance of this disorder. This research highlights the importance of early identification and treatment of sleep disturbances in at-risk and trauma exposed populations. A number of psychological and pharmacological treatments are effective at treating sleep disturbances in PTSD. Additional research is needed to further develop clinical guidelines informing when and how to integrate sleep-specific treatment with PTSD focused clinical care.
authors: Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, Minneapolis VA Health Care System; Department of Psychiatry, University of Minnesota Medical School.
authors: Erin
authors: E
authors: Koffel
authors: Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center, Hennepin County Medical Center; Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota School of Medicine.
authors: Imran S
authors: IS
authors: Khawaja
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Germain