title: Trauma associated sleep disorder: A parasomnia induced by trauma.
abstract: Nightmares and disruptive nocturnal behaviors that develop after traumatic experiences have long been recognized as having different clinical characteristics that overlap with other established parasomnia diagnoses. The inciting experience is typically in the setting of extreme traumatic stress coupled with periods of sleep disruption and/or deprivation. The limited number of laboratory documented cases and symptomatic overlap with rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have contributed to difficulties in identifying what is a unique parasomnia. Trauma associated sleep disorder (TSD) incorporates the inciting traumatic experience and clinical features of trauma related nightmares and disruptive nocturnal behaviors as a novel parasomnia. The aims of this theoretical review are to 1) summarize the known cases and clinical findings supporting TSD, 2) differentiate TSD from clinical disorders with which it has overlapping features, 3) propose criteria for the diagnosis of TSD, and 4) present a hypothetical neurobiological model for the pathophysiology of TSD. Hyperarousal, as opposed to neurodegenerative changes in RBD, is a component of TSD that likely contributes to overriding atonia during REM sleep and the comorbid diagnosis of insomnia. Lastly, a way forward to further establish TSD as an accepted sleep disorder is proposed.
authors.affiliation: San Antonio Military Medical Center, Department of Sleep Medicine, 2200 Bergquist Drive, Suite 1, JBSA Lackland, TX 78236, USA. Electronic address: vincent.mysliwiec.mil@mail.mil.
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mysliwiec
authors.affiliation: San Antonio Military Medical Center, Department of Sleep Medicine, 2200 Bergquist Drive, Suite 1, JBSA Lackland, TX 78236, USA.
authors.forename: Matthew S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Brock
authors.affiliation: Madigan Army Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Tacoma, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Creamer
authors.affiliation: Madigan Army Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Tacoma, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Brian M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: O'Reilly
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Germain
authors.affiliation: Madigan Army Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Tacoma, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Bernard J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D004325:Dreams / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D020187:REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*
keywords: Combat; Military; Nightmares; Parasomnia; Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD); Trauma; Trauma associated sleep disorder (TSD); Veterans