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Objective evidence of sleep disturbance in women with posttraumatic stress disorder
Author(s) -
Calhoun Patrick S.,
Wiley Matt,
Dennis Michelle F.,
Means Melanie K.,
Edinger Jack D.,
Beckham Jean C.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of traumatic stress
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.259
H-Index - 134
eISSN - 1573-6598
pISSN - 0894-9867
DOI - 10.1002/jts.20255
Subject(s) - actigraphy , sleep disorder , sleep (system call) , posttraumatic stress , pittsburgh sleep quality index , psychology , sleep onset latency , clinical psychology , psychiatry , sleep onset , insomnia , sleep quality , computer science , operating system
Abstract Although sleep disturbance is considered a hallmark of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), objective evidence for sleep disturbance in patients with PTSD has been equivocal. The goal of the current investigation was to objectively examine sleep disturbance among women with PTSD in their home environment. Women with PTSD ( n = 30) and a control group ( n = 22) completed three nights of actigraphy monitoring. Results from actigraphy indicated that women with PTSD had poorer sleep efficiency, increased sleep latency, and more restless sleep. Actigraphy measures were moderately correlated with self‐report sleep‐log data, but were unrelated to scores on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. The current study provides evidence that women with PTSD have objectively measured sleep disturbance in their normal environment at home. Disturbed sleep may have important implications for the health and well‐being of individuals with PTSD.