doi:10.1016/S0022-3999(00)00147-1

Paper Title

A retrospective study on improvements in nightmares and post-traumatic stress disorder following treatment for co-morbid sleep-disordered breathing

Authors

Mary P. Koss

Barry Krakow

Michael A. Hollifield

LISA GRAZINA JOHNSTON

Dan Tandberg

Dominic Melendrez

Anne Germain

Keywords

Sleep-Disordered Breathing (SDB)
Nightmare Treatment
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS)
Sleep Disorders Clinic
Retrospective Study
Sleep and Trauma
PTSD Symptom Improvement
Nightmare Reduction
Daytime Well-Being
Treatment Compliance
Sleep Quality
Psychological Outcomes
Trauma and Sleep
Sleep Medicine
Mental Health Treatment
Sleep Apnea Therapy
PTSD and Sleep
Long-Term Follow-Up

Article Type

Research Article

Journal

Journal of Psychosomatic Research

Research Impact Tools

DOI

10.1016/S0022-3999(00)00147-1

Issue

Volume : 49 | Issue : 5 | Page No : 291-298

Published On

November, 2000

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Abstract

Objective: To assess the impact of treatment for co-morbid sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) on patients with nightmares and post-traumatic stress. Methods: Twenty-three chronic nightmare sufferers (15 with post-traumatic stress disorder, PTSD) who also suffered co-morbid SDB (obstructive sleep apnea, OSA, n=16; upper airway resistance syndrome, UARS, n=7) completed a telephone interview, on average, 21 months after having been offered treatment for SDB at a university sleep disorders clinic. Results: At follow-up, 14 reported maintaining treatment (Treatment Group) and 9 reported discontinuing treatment (No-Treatment Group). More patients in the Treatment Group reported improvement in sleep (93% vs. 33%) and in daytime well being (93% vs. 33%) compared with those in the No-Treatment group. The Treatment Group reported a median improvement in nightmares of 85% compared with a median 10% worsening in the No-Treatment Group. In the PTSD subset (n=15), nine in the Treatment Group reported a median 75% improvement in PTSD symptoms whereas six in the No-Treatment Group reported a median 43% worsening. Conclusion: In this small sample of patients, treatment of SDB was associated with improvements in nightmares and PTSD. Relationships between nightmares, PTSD and SDB are discussed.