Sleep disorder symptoms are associated with greater posttraumatic stress and anger symptoms in US Army service members seeking treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder

Study Objectives: Characterize associations between sleep impairments and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, including anger, in service members seeking treatment for PTSD. Methods: Ninety-three US Army personnel recruited into a PTSD treatment study completed the baseline assessment. State-of-the-science sleep measurements included 1) retrospective, self-reported insomnia, 2) prospective sleep diaries assessing sleep patterns and nightmares, and 3) polysomnography measured sleep architecture and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea severity. Dependent variables included self-report measures of PTSD severity and anger severity. Pearson correlations and multiple linear regression analyses examined if sleep symptoms, not generally measured in PTSD populations, were associated with PTSD and anger severity. Results: All participants met PTSD, insomnia, and nightmare diagnostic criteria. Mean sleep efficiency = 70%, total sleep time = 5.5 hours, obstructive sleep apnea/ hypopnea (obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea index = 5 events/h) = 53%, and clinically significant anger = 85%. PTSD severity was associated with insomnia severity (beta =.58), nightmare severity (beta =.24), nightmare frequency (beta =.31), and time spent in Stage 1 sleep (beta =.27, all P <.05). Anger severity was associated with insomnia severity (beta =.37), nightmare severity (beta =.28), and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea during rapid eye movement sleep (beta =.31, all P <.05). Conclusions: Insomnia and nightmares were related to PTSD and anger severity, and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea was related to anger. Better assessment and evidence-based treatment of these comorbid sleep impairments in service members with PTSD and significant anger should result in better PTSD, anger, and quality-of-life outcomes.

Automated summary

The study found associations between insomnia, nightmares, and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea with PTSD and anger severity. Better assessment and treatment of these sleep impairments may result in improved symptoms in service members with PTSD and anger.