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Yuksel C, Watford L, Muranaka M, McCoy E, Lax H, Mendelsohn AK, Oliver KI, Daffre C, Acosta A, Vidrin A, Martinez U, Lasko N, Orr S, Pace-Schott EF. REM disruption and REM Vagal Activity Predict Extinction Recall in Trauma-Exposed Individuals. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.09.28.560007. [PMID: 37808660 PMCID: PMC10557699 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.28.560007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that rapid eye movement sleep (REM) supports the consolidation of extinction memory. REM is disrupted in PTSD, and REM abnormalities after traumatic events increase the risk of developing PTSD. Therefore, it was hypothesized that abnormal REM in trauma-exposed individuals may pave the way for PTSD by interfering with the processing of extinction memory. In addition, PTSD patients display reduced vagal activity. Vagal activity contributes to the strengthening of memories, including fear extinction memory, and recent studies show that the role of vagus in memory processing extends to memory consolidation during sleep. Therefore, it is plausible that reduced vagal activity during sleep in trauma-exposed individuals may be an additional mechanism that impairs extinction memory consolidation. However, to date, the contribution of sleep vagal activity to the consolidation of extinction memory or any emotional memory has not been investigated. To test these hypotheses, we examined the association of extinction memory with REM characteristics and REM vagal activity (indexed as heart rate variability) in a large sample of trauma-exposed individuals (n=113). Consistent with our hypotheses, REM disruption was associated with poorer physiological and explicit extinction memory. Furthermore, higher vagal activity during REM was associated with better explicit extinction memory, and physiological extinction memory in males. These findings support the notion that abnormal REM may contribute to PTSD by impairing the consolidation of extinction memory and indicate the potential utility of interventions that target REM sleep characteristics and REM vagal activity in fear-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cagri Yuksel
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | | | | | - Hannah Lax
- McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Augustus Kram Mendelsohn
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Katelyn I. Oliver
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Carolina Daffre
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Alexis Acosta
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Abegail Vidrin
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Uriel Martinez
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Natasha Lasko
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Scott Orr
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
| | - Edward F. Pace-Schott
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
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2
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Tomacsek V, Blaskovich B, Király A, Reichardt R, Simor P. Altered parasympathetic activity during sleep and emotionally arousing wakefulness in frequent nightmare recallers. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 2024; 274:265-277. [PMID: 36862312 PMCID: PMC10914885 DOI: 10.1007/s00406-023-01573-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Nightmare disorder is characterized by dysfunctional emotion regulation and poor subjective sleep quality reflected in pathophysiological features such as abnormal arousal processes and sympathetic influences. Dysfunctional parasympathetic regulation, especially before and during rapid eye movement (REM) phases, is assumed to alter heart rate (HR) and its variability (HRV) of frequent nightmare recallers (NM). We hypothesized that cardiac variability is attenuated in NMs as opposed to healthy controls (CTL) during sleep, pre-sleep wakefulness and under an emotion-evoking picture-rating task. Based on the polysomnographic recordings of 24 NM and 30 CTL participants, we examined HRV during pre-REM, REM, post-REM and slow wave sleep, separately. Additionally, electrocardiographic recordings of resting state before sleep onset and under an emotionally challenging picture-rating task were also analyzed. Applying repeated measures analysis of variance (rmANOVA), a significant difference was found in the HR of NMs and CTLs during nocturnal segments but not during resting wakefulness, suggesting autonomic dysregulation, specifically during sleep in NMs. As opposed to the HR, the HRV values were not significantly different in the rmANOVA in the two groups, implying that the extent of parasympathetic dysregulation on a trait level might depend on the severeness of dysphoric dreaming. Nonetheless, in the group comparisons, the NM group showed increased HR and reduced HRV during the emotion-evoking picture-rating task, which aimed to model the nightmare experience in the daytime, indicating disrupted emotion regulation in NMs under acute distress. In conclusion, trait-like autonomic changes during sleep and state-like autonomic responses to emotion-evoking pictures indicate parasympathetic dysregulation in NMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Tomacsek
- Doctoral School of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 46 Izabella Street, Budapest, 1064, Hungary.
| | - Borbála Blaskovich
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Anna Király
- National Institute of Locomotor Diseases and Disabilities, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Richárd Reichardt
- Institute of Education and Psychology at Szombathely, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Péter Simor
- Institute of Psychology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 46 Izabella Street, Budapest, 1064, Hungary
- UR2NF, Neuropsychology and Functional Neuroimaging Research Unit at CRCN-Center for Research in Cognition and Neurosciences and UNI-ULB Neurosciences Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium
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Hefnawy MT, Amer BE, Amer SA, Moghib K, Khlidj Y, Elfakharany B, Mouffokes A, Alazzeh ZJ, Soni NP, Wael M, Elsayed ME. Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Sleeping Paralysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus 2024; 16:e53212. [PMID: 38425633 PMCID: PMC10902800 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.53212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Sleep paralysis (SP) is a mixed state of consciousness and sleep, combining features of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep with those of wakefulness. The exact cause of SP is unknown, and its prevalence varies among the studies. We aim to identify SP's global prevalence, the affected population's characteristics, and the SP's clinical picture. We searched three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (WoS)) using a unique search strategy to identify eligible studies. All observational studies identifying the prevalence or frequency of sleeping paralysis were included. No exclusions are made based on country, race, or questionnaire. The analysis was performed using the latest version of R software (R Core Team, Vienna, Austria). The analysis included 76 studies from 25 countries with 167,133 participants. The global prevalence of SP was 30% (95% CI (22%, 39%)). There were similar frequencies of isolated SP and SP (33%, 95% CI (26%, 42%), I2 = 97%, P <0.01; 31%, 95% CI (21%, 43%), I2 = 100%, P = 0, respectively). A subgroup analysis showed that the majority of those who experienced SP were psychiatric patients (35%, 95% CI (20%, 55%), I2 = 96%, P <0.01). The prevalence among non-psychiatric patients was among students (34%, 95% CI (23%, 47%), I2 = 100%, P = 0). Auditory and visual hallucinations were reported in 24.25% of patients. Around 4% had only visual hallucinations. Meta-regression showed no association between the frequency of SP and sex. Publication bias was detected among the included studies through visual inspection of funnel plot asymmetry. Our findings revealed that 30% of the population suffered from SP, especially psychiatric patients and students. The majority of SP cases lacked associated hallucinations, while a noteworthy proportion experienced combined visual and auditory hallucinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud T Hefnawy
- Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EGY
- Medical Research Group of Egypt Branch, Negida Academy, Arlington, USA
| | - Basma E Amer
- Faculty of Medicine, Banha University, Banha, EGY
- Medical Research Group of Egypt Branch, Negida Academy, Arlington, USA
| | - Samar A Amer
- Family Medicine, Royal College of General Practice, London, GBR
- Faculty of Public Health and Community Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, EGY
| | | | - Yehya Khlidj
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Algiers Benyoucef Benkhedda, Algiers, DZA
| | - Bahaa Elfakharany
- Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, Pharos University, Alexandria, EGY
- Medical Research Group of Egypt Branch, Negida Academy, Arlington, USA
| | - Adel Mouffokes
- Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oran 1 Ahmed Ben Bella, Oran, DZA
| | - Zainab J Alazzeh
- Faculty of Medicine, Jordanian University of Science and Technology, Ar-Ramtha, JOR
| | - Nishant P Soni
- Medicine, Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society Medical College and Hospital, Ahmedabad, IND
| | - Muhannad Wael
- Urology, Saint Joseph Hospital, Jerusalem, PSE
- Faculty of Medicine, An-Najah National University, Nablus, PSE
| | - Mohamed E Elsayed
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Oldenburg, DEU
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Campbell AA, Taylor KA, Augustine AV, Sherwood A, Wu JQ, Beckham JC, Hoerle JM, Ulmer CS. Nightmares: an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease? Sleep 2023; 46:zsad089. [PMID: 36996027 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Prior work has established associations between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), disrupted sleep, and cardiovascular disease (CVD), but few studies have examined health correlates of nightmares beyond risks conferred by PTSD. This study examined associations between nightmares and CVD in military veterans. METHODS Participants were veterans (N = 3468; 77% male) serving since September 11, 2001, aged 38 years (SD = 10.4); approximately 30% were diagnosed with PTSD. Nightmare frequency and severity were assessed using the Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS). Self-reported medical issues were assessed using the National Vietnam Veterans Readjustment Study Self-report Medical Questionnaire. Mental health disorders were established using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. The sample was stratified by the presence or absence of PTSD. Within-group associations between nightmare frequency and severity and self-reported CVD conditions, adjusting for age, sex, race, current smoking, depression, and sleep duration. RESULTS Frequent and severe nightmares during the past week were endorsed by 32% and 35% of participants, respectively. Those endorsing nightmares that were frequent, severe, and the combination thereof were more likely to also evidence high blood pressure (ORs 1.42, OR 1.56, and OR 1.47, respectively) and heart problems (OR 1.43, OR 1.48, and OR 1.59, respectively) after adjusting for PTSD diagnosis and other covariates. CONCLUSIONS Nightmare frequency and severity among veterans are associated with cardiovascular conditions, even after controlling for PTSD diagnosis. Study findings suggest that nightmares may be an independent risk factor for CVD. Additional research is needed to validate these findings using confirmed diagnoses and explore potential mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kenneth A Taylor
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke University School of Medicine, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ann V Augustine
- Durham Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Andrew Sherwood
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jade Q Wu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jean C Beckham
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Veterans Affairs VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC Workgroup, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Hoerle
- Veterans Affairs VA Mid-Atlantic MIRECC Workgroup, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Christi S Ulmer
- Durham Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Durham Veterans Affairs Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation (ADAPT), Durham, NC, USA
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Yazawa A, Shiba K, Okuzono SS, Hikichi H, Kawachi I. Bidirectional associations between post-traumatic stress symptoms and sleep quality among older survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Sleep 2023; 46:zsad106. [PMID: 37029901 PMCID: PMC10465083 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsad106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES We sought to examine the bidirectional associations between post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and sleep quality in a sample of older disaster survivors. METHODS We used 4 waves (2010, 2013, 2016, and 2020) of the Iwanuma Study, which included pre-disaster information and 9 years of follow-up data among older survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Poisson regression analysis was used to examine the bidirectional associations between sleep problems and PTSS. RESULTS Individuals reporting sleep problems before the disaster were more likely to develop PTSS after exposure to disaster trauma, while there was no effect modification, i.e. prevalence ratio for sleep problems did not differ by the magnitude of disaster damages. Individuals reporting sleep problems after the disaster were less likely to recover from PTSS, and more likely to develop the delayed onset of PTSS 5 years after the disaster. While individuals who recovered from PTSS 9 years after the disaster were still at slightly higher risk of having sleep problems compared to those who never had PTSS, none of the sleeping problems were found to be significantly prevalent after the Bonferroni correction. CONCLUSIONS Pre-disaster sleep problems predicted PTSS onset independently of experiences of disaster trauma. The association between PTSS and sleep problems was bidirectional. Intervening to mitigate lingering sleep problems may benefit the recovery of disaster survivors from post-traumatic symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aki Yazawa
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Center for Clinical Sciences, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichiro Shiba
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sakurako Shiba Okuzono
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hiroyuki Hikichi
- Division of Public Health, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Ichiro Kawachi
- Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
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Mofaz M, Yechezkel M, Einat H, Kronfeld-Schor N, Yamin D, Shmueli E. Real-time sensing of war's effects on wellbeing with smartphones and smartwatches. COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE 2023; 3:55. [PMID: 37069232 PMCID: PMC10109229 DOI: 10.1038/s43856-023-00284-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Modern wars have a catastrophic effect on the wellbeing of civilians. However, the nature of this effect remains unclear, with most insights gleaned from subjective, retrospective studies. METHODS We prospectively monitored 954 Israelis (>40 years) from two weeks before the May 2021 Israel-Gaza war until four weeks after the ceasefire using smartwatches and a dedicated mobile application with daily questionnaires on wellbeing. This war severely affected civilians on both sides, where over 4300 rockets and missiles were launched towards Israeli cities, and 1500 aerial, land, and sea strikes were launched towards 16,500 targets in the Gaza Strip. RESULTS We identify considerable changes in all the examined wellbeing indicators during missile attacks and throughout the war, including spikes in heart rate levels, excessive screen-on time, and a reduction in sleep duration and quality. These changes, however, fade shortly after the war, with all affected measures returning to baseline in nearly all the participants. Greater changes are observed in individuals living closer to the battlefield, women, and younger individuals. CONCLUSIONS The demonstrated ability to monitor objective and subjective wellbeing indicators during crises in real-time is pivotal for the early detection of and prompt assistance to populations in need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merav Mofaz
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Matan Yechezkel
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Haim Einat
- School of Behavioral Sciences, The Academic College of Tel Aviv-Yafo, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Noga Kronfeld-Schor
- School of Zoology and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Dan Yamin
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Center for Combating Pandemics, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Erez Shmueli
- Department of Industrial Engineering, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
- MIT Media Lab, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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Al Jowf GI, Ahmed ZT, Reijnders RA, de Nijs L, Eijssen LMT. To Predict, Prevent, and Manage Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): A Review of Pathophysiology, Treatment, and Biomarkers. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065238. [PMID: 36982313 PMCID: PMC10049301 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can become a chronic and severely disabling condition resulting in a reduced quality of life and increased economic burden. The disorder is directly related to exposure to a traumatic event, e.g., a real or threatened injury, death, or sexual assault. Extensive research has been done on the neurobiological alterations underlying the disorder and its related phenotypes, revealing brain circuit disruption, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis dysfunction. Psychotherapy remains the first-line treatment option for PTSD given its good efficacy, although pharmacotherapy can also be used as a stand-alone or in combination with psychotherapy. In order to reduce the prevalence and burden of the disorder, multilevel models of prevention have been developed to detect the disorder as early as possible and to reduce morbidity in those with established diseases. Despite the clinical grounds of diagnosis, attention is increasing to the discovery of reliable biomarkers that can predict susceptibility, aid diagnosis, or monitor treatment. Several potential biomarkers have been linked with pathophysiological changes related to PTSD, encouraging further research to identify actionable targets. This review highlights the current literature regarding the pathophysiology, disease development models, treatment modalities, and preventive models from a public health perspective, and discusses the current state of biomarker research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazi I. Al Jowf
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Public Health, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (G.I.A.J.); (L.M.T.E.)
| | - Ziyad T. Ahmed
- College of Medicine, Sulaiman Al Rajhi University, Al-Bukairyah 52726, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rick A. Reijnders
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Laurence de Nijs
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Lars M. T. Eijssen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience (MHeNs), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- European Graduate School of Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Bioinformatics—BiGCaT, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (NUTRIM), Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (G.I.A.J.); (L.M.T.E.)
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Rountree-Harrison D, Berkovsky S, Kangas M. Heart and brain traumatic stress biomarker analysis with and without machine learning: A scoping review. Int J Psychophysiol 2023; 185:27-49. [PMID: 36720392 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2023.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The enigma of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is embedded in a complex array of physiological responses to stressful situations that result in disruptions in arousal and cognitions that characterise the psychological disorder. Deciphering these physiological patterns is complex, which has seen the use of machine learning (ML) grow in popularity. However, it is unclear to what extent ML has been used with physiological data, specifically, the electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) to further understand the physiological responses associated with PTSD. To better understand the use of EEG and ECG biomarkers, with and without ML, a scoping review was undertaken. A total of 124 papers based on adult samples were identified comprising 19 ML studies involving EEG and ECG. A further 21 studies using EEG data, and 84 studies employing ECG meeting all other criteria but not employing ML were included for comparison. Identified studies indicate classical ML methodologies currently dominate EEG and ECG biomarkers research, with derived biomarkers holding clinically relevant diagnostic implications for PTSD. Discussion of the emerging trends, algorithms used and their success is provided, along with areas for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darius Rountree-Harrison
- Macquarie University, Balaclava Road, Macquarie Park, New South Wales 2109, Australia; New South Wales Service for the Rehabilitation and Treatment of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS), 152-168 The Horsley Drive Carramar, New South Wales 2163, Australia.
| | - Shlomo Berkovsky
- Macquarie University, Balaclava Road, Macquarie Park, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Maria Kangas
- Macquarie University, Balaclava Road, Macquarie Park, New South Wales 2109, Australia
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9
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Daffre C, Oliver KI, Nazareno JRS, Mäder T, Seo J, Dominguez JP, Gannon K, Lasko NB, Orr SP, Pace-Schott EF. Rapid eye movement sleep parasympathetic activity predicts wake hyperarousal symptoms following a traumatic event. J Sleep Res 2023; 32:e13685. [PMID: 35915961 PMCID: PMC9851935 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Heart rate variability (HRV) can be used to assess changes in output of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). Considering that patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often experience disturbances in sleep, arousal, and autonomic functioning, we sought to explore the association of PNS activity during sleep with hyperarousal symptoms of PTSD. Because a broad literature supports the importance of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in PTSD, REM-sleep features were specifically examined as predictors of PTSD symptom severity. A total of 90 participants, primarily civilian and female, aged 18-40 years who had experienced a traumatic event in the last 2 years, underwent an ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) acclimation night followed by a second PSG night from which sleep physiological measures were computed. Participants underwent an ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) acclimation night followed by a second PSG night from which sleep physiological measures were computed. PTSD severity was measured using the PTSD Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (PCL-5). Dependent variables were total PCL-5 score as well as its hyperarousal symptom subscore. Predictors included REM latency, percentage, density, segment length, and an index of parasympathetic tone (root mean square of the successive differences in the R-R interval or RMSSD). Hierarchical regression models were conducted to analyse the association of REM features with PCL-5 total and hyperarousal subscales. Using hierarchical regression, REM-sleep RMSSD accounted for a significant proportion of the variation in outcome variables, even when accounting for other REM-sleep features. The present findings support hypothesised relationships between PTSD symptomatology and REM-sleep physiology and, specifically, that lowered parasympathetic tone in REM may be an important associate of the hyperarousal symptom cluster in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Daffre
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Katelyn I. Oliver
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Jovi R. S. Nazareno
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Thomas Mäder
- Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jeehye Seo
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
- Korea University, Department of Brain & Cognitive Engineering, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, KR
| | - Jarrod P. Dominguez
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Karen Gannon
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
| | - Natasha B. Lasko
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
| | - Scott P. Orr
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
| | - Edward F. Pace-Schott
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA
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10
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Maqsood R, Khattab A, Bennett AN, Boos CJ. Association between non-acute Traumatic Injury (TI) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280718. [PMID: 36689421 PMCID: PMC9870143 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a non-invasive measure of autonomic function. The relationship between unselected long-term traumatic injury (TI) and HRV has not been investigated. This systematic review examines the impact of non-acute TI (>7 days post-injury) on standard HRV indices in adults. Four electronic databases (CINAHL, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched. The quality of studies, risk of bias (RoB), and quality of evidence (QoE) were assessed using Axis, RoBANS and GRADE, respectively. Using the random-effects model, mean difference (MD) for root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) and standard deviation of NN-intervals (SDNN), and standardized mean difference (SMD) for Low-frequency (LF): High-Frequency (HF) were pooled in RevMan guided by the heterogeneity score (I2). 2152 records were screened followed by full-text retrieval of 72 studies. 31 studies were assessed on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only four studies met the inclusion criteria. Three studies demonstrated a high RoB (mean RoBANS score 14.5±3.31) with a low QoE. TI was associated with a significantly higher resting heart rate. Meta-analysis of three cross-sectional studies demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in RMSSD (MD -8.45ms, 95%CI-12.78, -4.12, p<0.0001) and SDNN (MD -9.93ms, 95%CI-14.82, -5.03, p<0.0001) (low QoE) in participants with TI relative to the uninjured control. The pooled analysis of four studies showed a higher LF: HF ratio among injured versus uninjured (SMD 0.20, 95%CI 0.01-0.39, p<0.04) (very low QoE). Albeit low QoE, non-acute TI is associated with attenuated HRV indicating autonomic imbalance. The findings might explain greater cardiovascular risk following TI. Trial registration PROSPERO registration number: CRD: CRD42021298530.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rabeea Maqsood
- Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, United Kingdom
| | - Ahmed Khattab
- Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander N. Bennett
- Academic Department of Military Rehabilitation, Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Loughborough, United Kingdom
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Boos
- Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, United Kingdom
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Dorset, NHS Trust, Poole, United Kingdom
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11
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Correia ATL, Lipinska G, Rauch HGL, Forshaw PE, Roden LC, Rae DE. Associations between sleep-related heart rate variability and both sleep and symptoms of depression and anxiety: A systematic review. Sleep Med 2023; 101:106-117. [PMID: 36370515 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2022.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
There is a bidirectional relationship between poor sleep and both mood- and anxiety-related disorders, which are among leading global health concerns. Additionally, both disordered sleep and these psychiatric disorders appear to be independently associated with altered autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. We hypothesise that ANS dysregulation during sleep may explain part of the relationship between poor sleep and mood- and anxiety-related disorders. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a frequently used marker of ANS function and gives an indication of ANS input to the heart - in particular, of the relative contributions of sympathetic and parasympathetic activity. A systematic review of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science yielded 41 studies dealing with sleep, mood- and anxiety-related disorders and sleep-related HRV. Hyperarousal during sleep, reflecting a predominance of sympathetic activation and indicative of ANS dysregulation, may be an important factor in the association between poor sleep and mood-related disorders. Longitudinal studies and mediation analyses are necessary to further understand the potential mediating role of ANS dysregulation on the relationship between poor sleep and mood- and anxiety-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arron T L Correia
- Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre & Division of Physiological Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
| | - Gosia Lipinska
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - H G Laurie Rauch
- Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre & Division of Physiological Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Philippa E Forshaw
- Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre & Division of Physiological Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Laura C Roden
- Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre & Division of Physiological Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa; Research Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, United Kingdom
| | - Dale E Rae
- Health Through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre & Division of Physiological Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, South Africa
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12
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Pace-Schott EF, Seo J, Bottary R. The influence of sleep on fear extinction in trauma-related disorders. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 22:100500. [PMID: 36545012 PMCID: PMC9761387 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
In Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), fear and anxiety become dysregulated following psychologically traumatic events. Regulation of fear and anxiety involves both high-level cognitive processes such as cognitive reattribution and low-level, partially automatic memory processes such as fear extinction, safety learning and habituation. These latter processes are believed to be deficient in PTSD. While insomnia and nightmares are characteristic symptoms of existing PTSD, abundant recent evidence suggests that sleep disruption prior to and acute sleep disturbance following traumatic events both can predispose an individual to develop PTSD. Sleep promotes consolidation in multiple memory systems and is believed to also do so for low-level emotion-regulatory memory processes. Consequently sleep disruption may contribute to the etiology of PTSD by interfering with consolidation in low-level emotion-regulatory memory systems. During the first weeks following a traumatic event, when in the course of everyday life resilient individuals begin to acquire and consolidate these low-level emotion-regulatory memories, those who will develop PTSD symptoms may fail to do so. This deficit may, in part, result from alterations of sleep that interfere with their consolidation, such as REM fragmentation, that have also been found to presage later PTSD symptoms. Here, sleep disruption in PTSD as well as fear extinction, safety learning and habituation and their known alterations in PTSD are first briefly reviewed. Then neural processes that occur during the early post-trauma period that might impede low-level emotion regulatory processes through alterations of sleep quality and physiology will be considered. Lastly, recent neuroimaging evidence from a fear conditioning and extinction paradigm in patient groups and their controls will be considered along with one possible neural process that may contribute to a vulnerability to PTSD following trauma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward F. Pace-Schott
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Corresponding author. Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital - East, CNY 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
| | - Jeehye Seo
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Korea University, Department of Brain & Cognitive Engineering, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Ryan Bottary
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA
- Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
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13
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Bajor LA, Balsara C, Osser DN. An evidence-based approach to psychopharmacology for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - 2022 update. Psychiatry Res 2022; 317:114840. [PMID: 36162349 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2022.114840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Algorithms for posttraumatic stress disorder were published by this team in 1999 and 2011. Developments since then warrant revision. New studies and review articles from January 2011 to November 2021 were identified via PubMed and analyzed for evidence supporting changes. Following consideration of variations required by special patient populations, treatment of sleep impairments remains as the first recommended step. Nightmares and non-nightmare disturbed awakenings are best addressed with the anti-adrenergic agent prazosin, with doxazosin and clonidine as alternatives. First choices for difficulty initiating sleep include hydroxyzine and trazodone. If significant non-sleep PTSD symptoms remain, an SSRI should be tried, followed by a second SSRI or venlafaxine as a third step. Second generation antipsychotics can be considered, particularly for SSRI augmentation when PTSD-associated psychotic symptoms are present, with the caveat that positive evidence is limited and side effects are considerable. Anti-adrenergic agents can also be considered for general PTSD symptoms if not already tried, though evidence for daytime use lags that available for sleep. Regarding other pharmacological and procedural options, e.g., transcranial magnetic stimulation, cannabinoids, ketamine, psychedelics, and stellate ganglion block, evidence does not yet support firm inclusion in the algorithm. An interactive version of this work can be found at www.psychopharm.mobi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Bajor
- James A. Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL, United States; University of South Florida Morsani School of Medicine, Tampa, FL, United States; VA Boston Healthcare System and Harvard South Shore Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Brockton, MA, United States.
| | - Charmi Balsara
- HCA Healthcare East Florida Division GME/HCA FL Aventura Hospital, United States
| | - David N Osser
- VA Boston Healthcare System and Harvard South Shore Psychiatry Residency Training Program, Brockton, MA, United States
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14
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Hahusseau S, Baracat B, Lebey T, Laudebat L, Valdez Z, Delorme A. Heart rate variability biofeedback intero-nociceptive emotion exposure therapy for adverse childhood experiences. F1000Res 2022; 9:326. [PMID: 35516073 PMCID: PMC9034170 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.20776.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Psychiatric patients with adverse childhood experiences (ACE) tend to have dysfunctions in the interoceptive part of their emotional experience. The integration of interoceptive emotional activity in the insular and cingulate cortices is linked to the regulation of sympathovagal balance. This makes heart rate variability (HRV) an ideal measure for providing feedback on emotion regulation in real-time. Methods: A sample of one hundred (n=100) outpatients was evaluated. Participants underwent eight 30-minutes ACE exposure sessions during which patients were guided to experience bodily sensations related to ACE while their HRV was monitored using a commercial biofeedback device. Results: Comparing the results of the first to last therapeutic session, a significant decrease in heart rate and an increase in HRV at the onset of the session were observed. Conclusions: This study suggests a physiological impact of therapeutic interventions on autonomic balance and underlines the interest in HRV biofeedback as clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thierry Lebey
- LAPLACE, Federal University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Zarel Valdez
- LAPLACE, Federal University of Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Arnaud Delorme
- CERCO, Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
- Centre de rechercher Cerveau et Cognition, CNRS, Toulouse, France
- Institute of Neural Computation, University of California San Diego, Santa Diego, CA, USA
- Institute of Noetic Sciences, Petaluma, CA, USA
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15
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Mallet C, Chick CF, Maatoug R, Fossati P, Brunet A, Millet B. Memory reconsolidation impairment using the β-adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol reduces nightmare severity in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: a preliminary study. J Clin Sleep Med 2022; 18:1847-1855. [PMID: 35404227 DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.10010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Post-traumatic nightmares may exacerbate and perpetuate the daytime symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and might represent a therapeutic target. The therapeutic strategy of memory reconsolidation using the β-adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol associated with re-exposure psychotherapy is a promising treatment in PTSD patients. Previous studies have established this therapy is effective in reducing overall clinician-assessed PTSD symptoms but to date no previous study has specifically focused on posttraumatic nightmares in this therapy. This study provides a preliminary assessment of the evolution of nightmares severity during this therapy protocol, compared with the decrease of the other PTSD symptoms. It evaluates the incidence of side effects and examines the relative effects on posttraumatic nightmares. METHODS Patients were recruited as part of the Paris Mémoire Vive study. Data were collected using a prospective longitudinal design including one baseline visit, six therapeutic visits, and two follow-up visits. During the six therapeutic visits, propranolol was administered orally 60 to 75 minutes prior to the psychotherapeutic session. RESULTS On average, nightmare severity decreased from "severe" to "mild" during the protocol and remained stable two months after the last session. Whereas 85% of patients reported nightmares at baseline, only 50% still had them after the protocol. The protocol was generally well tolerated and, did not increase nightmare severity for any patient in the study. CONCLUSIONS Memory reconsolidation therapy with propranolol seems promising in reducing nightmare severity, up to and including remission. However, research using a randomized controlled design, and assessing maintenance of nightmare extinction, is warranted. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION Registry: ClinicalTrials.gov; Name: Using Reconsolidation Blockade to Treat Trauma Related Disorders After Paris Attacks: An Effectiveness Study (PARIS-MEM); Identifier: NCT02789982; URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02789982.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Mallet
- GHU PARIS Psychiatrie & Neurosciences, site Sainte-Anne, Paris, France
| | - Christina F Chick
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Redwan Maatoug
- Sorbonne Université, AP-HP, Service de psychiatrie adulte de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Philippe Fossati
- Institut du Cerveau, (ICM), UM75, CNRS UMR 7225, Inserm U1127 & Service de Psychiatrie Adultes, APHP Sorbonne Université, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Alain Brunet
- Douglas Institute Research Center, and the Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Bruno Millet
- Sorbonne Université, AP-HP, Service de psychiatrie adulte de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, F-75013 Paris, France
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16
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Weber FC, Wetter TC. The Many Faces of Sleep Disorders in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: An Update on Clinical Features and Treatment. Neuropsychobiology 2022; 81:85-97. [PMID: 34474413 PMCID: PMC9153357 DOI: 10.1159/000517329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Sleep disorders and nightmares are core symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The relationship seems to be bidirectional, and persistent disturbed sleep may influence the course of the disorder. With regard to sleep quality, insomnia and nocturnal anxiety symptoms, as well as nightmares and stressful dreams, are the most prominent sleep symptoms. Polysomnographic measurements reveal alterations of the sleep architecture and fragmentation of rapid eye movement sleep. In addition, sleep disorders, such as sleep-related breathing disorders and parasomnias are frequent comorbid conditions. The complex etiology and symptomatology of trauma-related sleep disorders with frequent psychiatric comorbidity require the application of multimodal treatment concepts, including psychological and pharmacological interventions. However, there is little empirical evidence on the effectiveness of long-term drug treatment for insomnia and nightmares. For nondrug interventions, challenges arise from the current lack of PTSD-treatment concepts integrating sleep- and trauma-focused therapies. Effective therapy for sleep disturbances may consequently also improve well-being during the day and probably even the course of PTSD. Whether early sleep interventions exert a preventive effect on the development of PTSD remains to be clarified in future studies.
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17
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Raz S, Lahad M. Physiological indicators of emotional arousal related to ANS activity in response to associative cards for psychotherapeutic PTSD treatment. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:933692. [PMID: 36419970 PMCID: PMC9676269 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.933692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
SEE FAR CBT is an integrative treatment protocol for PTSD and anxiety disorders which combines CBT, body-mind (somatic experience) and imagery-based (fantastic reality; FR) methods. FR is introduced using associative therapeutic cards (COPE cards) to represent both "a pleasant/safe place" and the re-narrating process of the traumatic story. Although some preliminary evidence exists regarding the impact of COPE cards integration in psychotherapy, further validation is needed as to whether these cards can induce distinct arousal-affective states in the observer. The aim of this study was to examine whether exposure to COPE cards evoke different emotional-psychophysiological states using objective physiological measures reflecting autonomic nervous system responses; hence, to further validate its use as a potentially effective tool within the context of SEE FAR CBT therapeutic process. Ninety-five healthy under-graduate participants were first exposed to high-arousal, negatively-valenced cards and asked to put themselves in a state of emotional/physical arousal. Afterwards, they were exposed to low-arousal, positively-valenced cards and were asked to try to calm and relax to the best of their ability. Heart rate, blood pressure and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured at baseline, at the arousal phase and finally at the relaxation phase. It was found that exposure to arousing negative cards resulted in significant increase in blood pressure and a decrease in HRV, while exposure to relaxing positive cards resulted in significant decrease in blood pressure and an increase in HRV. These findings support the efficacy and utility of associative COPE cards in affecting psychophysiological arousal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivan Raz
- Department of Psychology, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee, Israel.,Department of Behavioral Sciences, Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Emek Yezreel, Israel
| | - Mooli Lahad
- Department of Psychology, Tel-Hai College, Upper Galilee, Israel
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18
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Seo J, Oliver KI, Daffre C, Moore KN, Gazecki S, Lasko NB, Milad MR, Pace-Schott EF. Associations of sleep measures with neural activations accompanying fear conditioning and extinction learning and memory in trauma-exposed individuals. Sleep 2021; 45:6414032. [PMID: 34718807 DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsab261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES Sleep disturbances increase risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sleep effects on extinction may contribute to such risk. Neural activations to fear extinction were examined in trauma-exposed participants and associated with sleep variables. METHODS Individuals trauma-exposed within the past 2 years (N=126, 63 PTSD) completed 2 weeks actigraphy and sleep diaries, 3 nights ambulatory polysomnography and a 2-day fMRI protocol with Fear-Conditioning, Extinction-Learning and, 24h later, Extinction-Recall phases. Activations within the anterior cerebrum and regions of interest (ROI) were examined within the total, PTSD-diagnosed and trauma-exposed control (TEC) groups. Sleep variables were used to predict activations within groups and among total participants. Family wise error was controlled at p<0.05 using nonparametric analysis with 5000 permutations. RESULTS Initially, Fear Conditioning activated broad subcortical and cortical anterior-cerebral regions. Within-group analyses showed: (1) by end of Fear Conditioning activations decreased in TEC but not PTSD; (2) across Extinction Learning, TEC activated medial prefrontal areas associated with emotion regulation whereas PTSD did not; (3) beginning Extinction Recall, PTSD activated this emotion-regulatory region whereas TEC did not. However, the only between-group contrast reaching significance was greater activation of a hippocampal ROI in TEC at Extinction Recall. A greater number of sleep variables were associated with cortical activations in separate groups versus the entire sample and in PTSD versus TEC. CONCLUSIONS PTSD non-significantly delayed extinction learning relative to TEC possibly increasing vulnerability to pathological anxiety. The influence of sleep integrity on brain responses to threat and extinction may be greater in more symptomatic individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeehye Seo
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown MA, USA.,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Korea University, Department of Brain & Cognitive Engineering, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, KR
| | - Katelyn I Oliver
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown MA, USA.,Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Carolina Daffre
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown MA, USA.,Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Kylie N Moore
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown MA, USA.,Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel Gazecki
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown MA, USA.,University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, ME, USA
| | - Natasha B Lasko
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown MA, USA.,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Mohammed R Milad
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.,Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, Rockland, NY, USA
| | - Edward F Pace-Schott
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown MA, USA.,Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Charlestown, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Charlestown, MA, USA
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19
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Cakmak AS, Alday EAP, Da Poian G, Rad AB, Metzler TJ, Neylan TC, House SL, Beaudoin FL, An X, Stevens JS, Zeng D, Linnstaedt SD, Jovanovic T, Germine LT, Bollen KA, Rauch SL, Lewandowski CA, Hendry PL, Sheikh S, Storrow AB, Musey PI, Haran JP, Jones CW, Punches BE, Swor RA, Gentile NT, McGrath ME, Seamon MJ, Mohiuddin K, Chang AM, Pearson C, Domeier RM, Bruce SE, O'Neil BJ, Rathlev NK, Sanchez LD, Pietrzak RH, Joormann J, Barch DM, Pizzagalli DA, Harte SE, Elliott JM, Kessler RC, Koenen KC, Ressler KJ, Mclean SA, Li Q, Clifford GD. Classification and Prediction of Post-Trauma Outcomes Related to PTSD Using Circadian Rhythm Changes Measured via Wrist-Worn Research Watch in a Large Longitudinal Cohort. IEEE J Biomed Health Inform 2021; 25:2866-2876. [PMID: 33481725 PMCID: PMC8395207 DOI: 10.1109/jbhi.2021.3053909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric condition resulting from threatening or horrifying events. We hypothesized that circadian rhythm changes, measured by a wrist-worn research watch are predictive of post-trauma outcomes. APPROACH 1618 post-trauma patients were enrolled after admission to emergency departments (ED). Three standardized questionnaires were administered at week eight to measure post-trauma outcomes related to PTSD, sleep disturbance, and pain interference with daily life. Pulse activity and movement data were captured from a research watch for eight weeks. Standard and novel movement and cardiovascular metrics that reflect circadian rhythms were derived using this data. These features were used to train different classifiers to predict the three outcomes derived from week-eight surveys. Clinical surveys administered at ED were also used as features in the baseline models. RESULTS The highest cross-validated performance of research watch-based features was achieved for classifying participants with pain interference by a logistic regression model, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.70. The ED survey-based model achieved an AUC of 0.77, and the fusion of research watch and ED survey metrics improved the AUC to 0.79. SIGNIFICANCE This work represents the first attempt to predict and classify post-trauma symptoms from passive wearable data using machine learning approaches that leverage the circadian desynchrony in a potential PTSD population.
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20
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Abstract
The human circadian system creates and maintains cellular and systemic rhythmicity essential for the temporal organization of physiological processes promoting homeostasis and environmental adaptation. Sleep disruption and loss of circadian rhythmicity fundamentally affects master homeostasic regulating systems at the crossroads of peripheral and central susceptibility pathways, similar to acute or chronic stress and, thus, may play a central role in the development of stress-related disorders. Direct and indirect human and animal PTSD research accordingly suggests circadian-system-linked sleep, neuroendocrine, immune, metabolic and autonomic dysregulation, linking circadian misalignment to PTSD pathophysiology. Additionally, there is evidence that sleep and circadian disruption may represent a vital pre-existing risk factor in the prediction of PTSD development, while sleep-related symptoms are among the most prominent in trauma-associated disorders. These facts may represent a need for a shift towards a more chronobiological understanding of traumatic sequel and could support better prevention, evaluation and treatment of sleep and circadian disruption as first steps in PTSD management. In this special issue, we highlight and review recent advances from human sleep and chronobiological research that enhances our understanding of the development and maintenance of trauma-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agorastos Agorastos
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.,VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH), VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Miranda Olff
- Department of PsychiatryAmsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,ARQ National Psychotrauma Centre, Diemen, The Netherlands
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21
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Agorastos A, Olff M. Traumatic stress and the circadian system: neurobiology, timing and treatment of posttraumatic chronodisruption. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2020; 11:1833644. [PMID: 33408808 PMCID: PMC7747941 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1833644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Humans have an evolutionary need for a well-preserved internal 'clock', adjusted to the 24-hour rotation period of our planet. This intrinsic circadian timing system enables the temporal organization of numerous physiologic processes, from gene expression to behaviour. The human circadian system is tightly and bidirectionally interconnected to the human stress system, as both systems regulate each other's activity along the anticipated diurnal challenges. The understanding of the temporal relationship between stressors and stress responses is critical in the molecular pathophysiology of stress-and trauma-related diseases, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Objectives/Methods: In this narrative review, we present the functional components of the stress and circadian system and their multilevel interactions and discuss how traumatic stress can affect the harmonious interplay between the two systems. Results: Circadian dysregulation after trauma exposure (posttraumatic chronodisruption) may represent a core feature of trauma-related disorders mediating enduring neurobiological correlates of traumatic stress through a loss of the temporal order at different organizational levels. Posttraumatic chronodisruption may, thus, affect fundamental properties of neuroendocrine, immune and autonomic systems, leading to a breakdown of biobehavioral adaptive mechanisms with increased stress sensitivity and vulnerability. Given that many traumatic events occur in the late evening or night hours, we also describe how the time of day of trauma exposure can differentially affect the stress system and, finally, discuss potential chronotherapeutic interventions. Conclusion: Understanding the stress-related mechanisms susceptible to chronodisruption and their role in PTSD could deliver new insights into stress pathophysiology, provide better psychochronobiological treatment alternatives and enhance preventive strategies in stress-exposed populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agorastos Agorastos
- II. Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.,VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH), VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Miranda Olff
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,ARQ Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen, The Netherlands
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22
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Optogenetic sleep enhancement improves fear-associated memory processing following trauma exposure in rats. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18025. [PMID: 33093538 PMCID: PMC7581760 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75237-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep disturbances are commonly found in trauma-exposed populations. Additionally, trauma exposure results in fear-associated memory impairments. Given the interactions of sleep with learning and memory, we hypothesized that increasing sleep duration following trauma exposure would restore overall function and improve trauma-induced fear-associated memory dysfunction. Here, we utilized single prolonged stress, a validated rodent model of post-traumatic stress disorder, in combination with optogenetic activation of hypothalamic melanin-concentrating hormone containing cells to increase sleep duration. The goal of this work was to ascertain if post-trauma sleep increases are sufficient to improve fear-associated memory function. In our laboratory, optogenetic stimulation after trauma exposure was sufficient to increase REM sleep duration during both the Light and Dark Phase, whereas NREM sleep duration was only increased during the Dark Phase of the circadian day. Interestingly though, animals that received optogenetic stimulation showed significantly improved fear-associated memory processing compared to non-stimulated controls. These results suggest that sleep therapeutics immediately following trauma exposure may be beneficial and that post-trauma sleep needs to be further examined in the context of the development of post-traumatic stress disorder.
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23
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Schneider M, Schwerdtfeger A. Autonomic dysfunction in posttraumatic stress disorder indexed by heart rate variability: a meta-analysis. Psychol Med 2020; 50:1937-1948. [PMID: 32854795 PMCID: PMC7525781 DOI: 10.1017/s003329172000207x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Changes in autonomic nervous system (ANS) function have been observed in a variety of psychological disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) provides insight into the functioning of the ANS. Previous research on PTSD found lower HRV in PTSD patients compared to controls, indicating altered sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, but findings are inconsistent. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to examine differences in HRV indices between individuals with PTSD and healthy controls at baseline and during stress. METHODS The included primary studies present an aggregate of studies analyzing different HRV indices. Examined HRV indices were standard deviation of the normalized NN-intervals (SDNN), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) spectral components, LF/HF ratio, and heart rate (HR). Moderating effects of study design, HRV and PTSD assessment, and sample characteristics were examined via subgroup-analyses and meta-regressions. RESULTS Random-effects meta-analyses for HRV parameters at rest revealed significant group differences for RMSSD and HF-HRV, suggesting lower parasympathetic activity in PTSD. The aggregated effect size for SDNN was medium, suggesting diminished total variability in PTSD. A small effect was found for LF-HRV. A higher LF/HF ratio was found in the PTSD sample as compared to controls. Individuals with PTSD showed significantly higher HR. During stress, individuals with PTSD showed higher HR and lower HF-HRV, both indicated by small effect sizes. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that PTSD is associated with ANS dysfunction.
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24
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Pallesen S, Hamre HS, Lang N, Bjorvatn B. Doxazosin for the treatment of nightmare disorder: A diary-based case study. SAGE Open Med Case Rep 2020; 8:2050313X20936079. [PMID: 32647580 PMCID: PMC7325538 DOI: 10.1177/2050313x20936079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The α1-adrenergic antagonist prazosin has showed good effect against posttraumatic stress disorder–related nightmares in several randomized controlled trials. The α1-adrenergic antagonist doxazosin, which has a longer half-live than prazosin, has received far less attention in the treatment of such nightmares. Here, we report a case of a patient suffering from severe nightmares following an erroneous medical administration of adrenaline (causing severe physiological hyper-activation) who was treated with doxazosin. Over a period of 280 days, the patient kept a nightmare diary and took 0, 4, or 8 mg doxazosin. The analyses showed that 8 mg doxazosin (55.2% nightmare-free nights) worked better (odds ratio = 28.2; 95% confidence interval = 3.7–213.9) compared to nights without doxazosin (4.3% nightmare-free nights). Except dizziness, which was not regarded as particularly bothersome by the patient, doxazosin was well tolerated. It is concluded that doxazosin may be indicated as a pharmacological treatment for patients suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder–related nightmares.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ståle Pallesen
- Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Norwegian Competence Center for Sleep Disorders, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Ståle Pallesen, Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen, Christies gate 12, Bergen 5015, Norway.
| | | | - Nina Lang
- Diakonhjemmet Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bjørn Bjorvatn
- Norwegian Competence Center for Sleep Disorders, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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25
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Engel S, van Zuiden M, Frijling JL, Koch SBJ, Nawijn L, Yildiz RLW, Schumacher S, Knaevelsrud C, Bosch JA, Veltman DJ, Olff M. Early posttraumatic autonomic and endocrine markers to predict posttraumatic stress symptoms after a preventive intervention with oxytocin. Eur J Psychotraumatol 2020; 11:1761622. [PMID: 32922686 PMCID: PMC7448939 DOI: 10.1080/20008198.2020.1761622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Efficient prevention of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) needs to target individuals with an increased risk for adverse outcome after trauma. Prognostic or prescriptive biological markers assessed early posttrauma may inform personalized treatment recommendations. OBJECTIVE To test prognostic and prescriptive effects of early (posttraumatic) autonomic and endocrine markers on PTSD symptom development. METHOD Autonomic and endocrine markers were assessed within 12 days posttrauma and before treatment initiation within a randomized placebo-controlled trial investigating repeated oxytocin administration as preventive intervention for PTSD. Linear mixed effects models were used to test the effects of heart rate (variability), resting cortisol, morning cortisol and cortisol awakening response (CAR), cortisol suppression by dexamethasone and resting oxytocin on PTSD symptoms 1.5, 3 and 6 months posttrauma in men (n = 54), women using hormonal contraception (n = 27) and cycling women (n = 19). RESULTS We found significant prognostic effects of resting oxytocin and cortisol suppression. In women using hormonal contraception, higher oxytocin was associated with higher PTSD symptoms across follow-up. Stronger cortisol suppression by dexamethasone, reflecting increased glucocorticoid receptor feedback sensitivity, was associated with lower PTSD symptoms across follow-up in men, but with higher symptoms at 1.5 months in women using hormonal contraception. These effects were independent of treatment condition. No further significant prognostic or prescriptive effects were detected. CONCLUSION Our exploratory study indicates that resting oxytocin and glucocorticoid receptor feedback sensitivity early posttrauma are associated with subsequent PTSD symptom severity. Notably, prognostic effects depended on sex and hormonal contraception use, emphasizing the necessity to consider these factors in biomedical PTSD research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinha Engel
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mirjam van Zuiden
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jessie L Frijling
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Saskia B J Koch
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Centre for Cognitive Neuroimaging, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Nawijn
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rinde L W Yildiz
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah Schumacher
- Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Knaevelsrud
- Division of Clinical Psychological Intervention, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jos A Bosch
- Department of Clinical Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dick J Veltman
- Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Miranda Olff
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Arq Psychotrauma Expert Group, Diemen, The Netherlands
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26
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Mascarel P, Poirot I, Lardinois M, Debien C, Vaiva G. [Sleep disorders and their treatment in post-traumatic stress disorder]. Presse Med 2019; 48:1051-1058. [PMID: 31473024 DOI: 10.1016/j.lpm.2019.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Subjects suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder present sleeping disorders like a chronic insomnia, traumatic nightmares, but also less expected, sleep breathing disorders. Sleep problems are a factor of development and maintenance of PTSD, but also a factor of resistance to treatment. After a therapy focused on PTSD, they represent frequent residual symptoms. It is necessary to couple, with the usual management of PTSD, targeted approaches for sleep problems. These targeted approaches allow an improvement of the nocturnal properties but also diurnal specific symptoms of PTSD. Stakes around primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of PTSD emerge around these sleep disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Mascarel
- CHU de Lille, secteur des urgences psychiatriques, pôle de l'urgence, 59037 Lille, France.
| | - Isabelle Poirot
- CHU de Lille, service de psychiatrie adulte, médecine légale et médecine en milieu pénitentiaire, pôle de psychiatrie, 59037 Lille, France
| | - Marine Lardinois
- Centre hospitalier de Versailles, service de psychiatrie adulte, 78150 Le Chesnay, France
| | - Christophe Debien
- CHU de Lille, service de psychiatrie adulte, médecine légale et médecine en milieu pénitentiaire, pôle de psychiatrie, 59037 Lille, France; Centre national de ressources et de résilience pour le psychotraumatisme (CN2R), 59000 Lille, France
| | - Guillaume Vaiva
- CHU de Lille, service de psychiatrie adulte, médecine légale et médecine en milieu pénitentiaire, pôle de psychiatrie, 59037 Lille, France; Centre national de ressources et de résilience pour le psychotraumatisme (CN2R), 59000 Lille, France
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27
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Brock MS, Powell TA, Creamer JL, Moore BA, Mysliwiec V. Trauma Associated Sleep Disorder: Clinical Developments 5 Years After Discovery. Curr Psychiatry Rep 2019; 21:80. [PMID: 31410580 DOI: 10.1007/s11920-019-1066-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We review recent and growing evidence that provides support for a novel parasomnia, trauma associated sleep disorder (TASD). Based on these findings, we further develop the clinical and polysomnographic (PSG) characteristics of TASD. We also address factors that precipitate TASD, develop a differential diagnosis, discuss therapy, and propose future directions for research. RECENT FINDINGS Nightmares, classically a REM phenomenon, are prevalent and underreported, even in individuals with trauma exposure. When specifically queried, trauma-related nightmares (TRN) are frequently associated with disruptive nocturnal behaviors (DNB), consistent with TASD. Capture of DNB in the lab is rare but ambulatory monitoring reveals dynamic autonomic concomitants associated with disturbed dreaming. TRN may be reported in NREM as well as REM sleep, though associated respiratory events may confound this finding. Further, dream content is more distressing in REM. Therapy for this complex disorder likely requires addressing not only the specific TASD components of TRN and DNB but comorbid sleep disorders. TASD is a unique parasomnia developing after trauma. Trauma-exposed individuals should be specifically asked about their sleep and if they have nightmares with or without DNB. Patients who report TRN warrant in-lab PSG as part of their evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Brock
- Department of Sleep Medicine, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, San Antonio, TX, USA.
| | - Tyler A Powell
- Department of Sleep Medicine, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Jennifer L Creamer
- Sleep Medicine Center, Martin Army Community Hospital, Fort Benning, GA, USA
| | - Brian A Moore
- University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.,University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Vincent Mysliwiec
- Department of Sleep Medicine, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium, San Antonio, TX, USA
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28
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Modarres MH, Opel RA, Weymann KB, Lim MM. Strong correlation of novel sleep electroencephalography coherence markers with diagnosis and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4247. [PMID: 30862872 PMCID: PMC6414519 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-38102-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective biomarkers of the presence and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are elusive, yet badly needed. Electroencephalographic (EEG) coherence represents a promising approach to identifying and understanding brain biomarker activity in PTSD. Overnight polysomnography data containing EEG across sleep and wake states was collected in n = 76 Veterans with and without PTSD from a single site under IRB approval. Brain coherence markers (BCM) were calculated from EEG signals using a novel approach to produce one index for PTSD diagnosis (PTSDdx), and another index for PTSD severity (PTSDsev). PTSDdx showed strong sensitivity to the presence of PTSD in the awake state, during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) stage N2 sleep, and in a hybrid BCM incorporating both awake and NREM sleep states. PTSDsev showed a strong correlation with PTSD symptom severity (using the PTSD Checklist 5, or PCL5 survey) in the awake state, during N2 sleep, and in a hybrid BCM incorporating both awake and NREM sleep states. Thus, sleep EEG-based brain coherence markers can be utilized as an objective means for determining the presence and severity of PTSD. This portable, inexpensive, and non-invasive tool holds promise for better understanding the physiological mechanisms underlying PTSD and for tracking objective responses to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo H Modarres
- Brain Rehabilitation Research Center, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ryan A Opel
- Sleep Disorders Clinic, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Kristianna B Weymann
- Sleep Disorders Clinic, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USA.,School of Nursing, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Miranda M Lim
- Sleep Disorders Clinic, VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USA. .,Department of Neurology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA. .,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA. .,Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.
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29
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Agorastos A, Pervanidou P, Chrousos GP, Baker DG. Developmental Trajectories of Early Life Stress and Trauma: A Narrative Review on Neurobiological Aspects Beyond Stress System Dysregulation. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:118. [PMID: 30914979 PMCID: PMC6421311 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 170] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Early life stressors display a high universal prevalence and constitute a major public health problem. Prolonged psychoneurobiological alterations as sequelae of early life stress (ELS) could represent a developmental risk factor and mediate risk for disease, leading to higher physical and mental morbidity rates in later life. ELS could exert a programming effect on sensitive neuronal brain networks related to the stress response during critical periods of development and thus lead to enduring hyper- or hypo-activation of the stress system and altered glucocorticoid signaling. In addition, alterations in emotional and autonomic reactivity, circadian rhythm disruption, functional and structural changes in the brain, as well as immune and metabolic dysregulation have been lately identified as important risk factors for a chronically impaired homeostatic balance after ELS. Furthermore, human genetic background and epigenetic modifications through stress-related gene expression could interact with these alterations and explain inter-individual variation in vulnerability or resilience to stress. This narrative review presents relevant evidence from mainly human research on the ten most acknowledged neurobiological allostatic pathways exerting enduring adverse effects of ELS even decades later (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, autonomic nervous system, immune system and inflammation, oxidative stress, cardiovascular system, gut microbiome, sleep and circadian system, genetics, epigenetics, structural, and functional brain correlates). Although most findings back a causal relation between ELS and psychobiological maladjustment in later life, the precise developmental trajectories and their temporal coincidence has not been elucidated as yet. Future studies should prospectively investigate putative mediators and their temporal sequence, while considering the potentially delayed time-frame for their phenotypical expression. Better screening strategies for ELS are needed for a better individual prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agorastos Agorastos
- II. Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Panagiota Pervanidou
- Unit of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, First Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- Unit of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, First Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dewleen G Baker
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States.,VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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30
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Agorastos A, Nicolaides NC, Bozikas VP, Chrousos GP, Pervanidou P. Multilevel Interactions of Stress and Circadian System: Implications for Traumatic Stress. Front Psychiatry 2019; 10:1003. [PMID: 32047446 PMCID: PMC6997541 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2019.01003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The dramatic fluctuations in energy demands by the rhythmic succession of night and day on our planet has prompted a geophysical evolutionary need for biological temporal organization across phylogeny. The intrinsic circadian timing system (CS) represents a highly conserved and sophisticated internal "clock," adjusted to the 24-h rotation period of the earth, enabling a nyctohemeral coordination of numerous physiologic processes, from gene expression to behavior. The human CS is tightly and bidirectionally interconnected to the stress system (SS). Both systems are fundamental for survival and regulate each other's activity in order to prepare the organism for the anticipated cyclic challenges. Thereby, the understanding of the temporal relationship between stressors and stress responses is critical for the comprehension of the molecular basis of physiology and pathogenesis of disease. A critical loss of the harmonious timed order at different organizational levels may affect the fundamental properties of neuroendocrine, immune, and autonomic systems, leading to a breakdown of biobehavioral adaptative mechanisms with increased stress sensitivity and vulnerability. In this review, following an overview of the functional components of the SS and CS, we present their multilevel interactions and discuss how traumatic stress can alter the interplay between the two systems. Circadian dysregulation after traumatic stress exposure may represent a core feature of trauma-related disorders mediating enduring neurobiological correlates of trauma through maladaptive stress regulation. Understanding the mechanisms susceptible to circadian dysregulation and their role in stress-related disorders could provide new insights into disease mechanisms, advancing psychochronobiological treatment possibilities and preventive strategies in stress-exposed populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agorastos Agorastos
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.,VA Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health (CESAMH), VA San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Nicolas C Nicolaides
- First Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Vasilios P Bozikas
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neurosciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- First Department of Pediatrics, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece.,Unit of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, First Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Pervanidou
- Unit of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, First Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
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31
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Agorastos A, Pervanidou P, Chrousos GP, Kolaitis G. Early life stress and trauma: developmental neuroendocrine aspects of prolonged stress system dysregulation. Hormones (Athens) 2018; 17:507-520. [PMID: 30280316 DOI: 10.1007/s42000-018-0065-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Experience of early life stress (ELS) and trauma is highly prevalent in the general population and has a high public health impact, as it can trigger a health-related risk cascade and lead to impaired homeostatic balance and elevated cacostatic load even decades later. The prolonged neuropsychobiological impact of ELS can, thus, be conceptualized as a common developmental risk factor for disease associated with increased physical and mental morbidity in later life. ELS during critical periods of brain development with elevated neuroplasticity could exert a programming effect on particular neuronal networks related to the stress response and lead to enduring neuroendocrine alterations, i.e., hyper- or hypoactivation of the stress system, associated with adult hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and glucocorticoid signaling dysregulation. This paper reviews the pathophysiology of the human stress response and provides evidence from human research on the most acknowledged stress axis-related neuroendocrine pathways exerting the enduring adverse effects of ELS and mediating the cumulative long-term risk of disease vulnerability in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agorastos Agorastos
- Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
- Thessaloniki General Hospital "G. Papanicolaou", Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki, Lagkada Str. 196, Stavroupoli, 56430, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Panagiota Pervanidou
- Unit of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, First Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - George P Chrousos
- Unit of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, First Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Gerasimos Kolaitis
- Department of Child Psychiatry, School of Medicine, "Aghia Sophia" Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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32
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Peterson SM, Furuichi E, Ferris DP. Effects of virtual reality high heights exposure during beam-walking on physiological stress and cognitive loading. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200306. [PMID: 29979750 PMCID: PMC6034883 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Virtual reality has been increasingly used in research on balance rehabilitation because it provides robust and novel sensory experiences in controlled environments. We studied 19 healthy young subjects performing a balance beam walking task in two virtual reality conditions and with unaltered view (15 minutes each) to determine if virtual reality high heights exposure induced stress. We recorded number of steps off the beam, heart rate, electrodermal activity, response time to an auditory cue, and high-density electroencephalography (EEG). We hypothesized that virtual high heights exposure would increase measures of physiological stress compared to unaltered viewing at low heights. We found that the virtual high height condition increased heart rate variability and heart rate frequency power relative to virtual low heights. Virtual reality use resulted in increased number of step-offs, heart rate, electrodermal activity, and response time compared to the unaltered viewing at low heights condition. Our results indicated that virtual reality decreased dynamic balance performance and increased physical and cognitive loading compared to unaltered viewing at low heights. In virtual reality, we found significant decreases in source-localized EEG peak amplitude relative to unaltered viewing in the anterior cingulate, which is considered important in sensing loss of balance. Our findings indicate that virtual reality provides realistic experiences that can induce physiological stress in humans during dynamic balance tasks, but virtual reality use impairs physical and cognitive performance during balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven M Peterson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Emily Furuichi
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America
| | - Daniel P Ferris
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
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33
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Lee SM, Han H, Jang KI, Huh S, Huh HJ, Joo JY, Chae JH. Heart rate variability associated with posttraumatic stress disorder in victims' families of sewol ferry disaster. Psychiatry Res 2018; 259:277-282. [PMID: 29091829 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2017.08.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is caused by a major traumatic event, has been associated with autonomic nervous function. However, there have been few explorations of measuring biological stress in the victims' family members who have been indirectly exposed to the disaster. Therefore, this longitudinal study examined the heart rate variability (HRV) of the family members of victims of the Sewol ferry disaster. We recruited 112 family members of victims 18 months after the disaster. Sixty-seven participants were revisited at the 30 months postdisaster time point. HRV and psychiatric symptoms including PTSD, depression and anxiety were evaluated at each time point. Participants with PTSD had a higher low frequency to high frequency ratio (LF:HF ratio) than those without PTSD. Logistic regression analysis showed that the LF:HF ratio at 18 months postdisaster was associated with a PTSD diagnosis at 30 months postdisaster. These results suggest that disrupted autonomic nervous system functioning for longer than a year after trauma exposure contributes to predicting PTSD vulnerability. Our finding may contribute to understand neurophysiologic mechanisms underlying secondary traumatic stress. Future studies will be needed to clarify the interaction between autonomic regulation and trauma exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Min Lee
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Biomedical Industry, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyesung Han
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea
| | - Kuk-In Jang
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Biomedical Industry, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Huh
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyu Jung Huh
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji-Young Joo
- Institute of Biomedical Industry, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Ho Chae
- Department of Biomedicine and Health Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Biomedical Industry, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Republic of Korea.
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Habukawa M, Uchimura N, Maeda M, Ogi K, Hiejima H, Kakuma T. Differences in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep abnormalities between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder patients: REM interruption correlated with nightmare complaints in PTSD. Sleep Med 2017; 43:34-39. [PMID: 29482809 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2017.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Revised: 10/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The presence of repeated nightmares in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been hypothesized as a dysfunction of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, but there has been remarkably little agreement about the pathophysiology. This presents a deterrent to more effective treatments. REM sleep abnormalities including elevated REM density also have been replicated in major depressive disorder (MDD). The purpose of this study was to clarify the difference of REM sleep abnormalities between the two disorders for understanding the pathophysiology of sleep disturbances in PTSD. METHODS Polysomnographic measures were compared among 14 PTSD patients (aged 23.7 ± 5.5 years) and 14 MDD patients (aged 27.9 ± 10.1 years) under drug-naive or drug-free conditions. We defined REM interruption by summing the intrusive wake times during the REM period and adding the subsequent wake times to the last epoch of REM period. The significant polysomnographic measures were correlated with PTSD symptoms within the PTSD group. RESULTS REM interruption was significantly increased in the PTSD group compared with the MDD group (12.2 vs 2.1 min, p = 0.001). REM density was also significantly increased in the PTSD group compared with the MDD group (30.5 vs 23.1%, p = 0.019). Within the PTSD group, we found significant correlations between the severity of trauma-related nightmare complaints and the percentage of REM interruption (R = 0.62, p = 0.017), but not REM density. CONCLUSIONS REM sleep abnormalities are different between PTSD and MDD. Increased REM interruption may be a biological marker correlated with nightmare complaints in PTSD patients. Treatments including pharmacotherapy that reduces REM interruption might ameliorate nightmares in PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsunari Habukawa
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan.
| | - Naohisa Uchimura
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masaharu Maeda
- Department of Disaster Psychiatry, Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine, Hukushima, Hukushima, Japan
| | - Kimihiro Ogi
- Department of Psychiatry, Ueda Hospital, Chikugo, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hiejima
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tatsuyuki Kakuma
- The Biostatistics Center, Medical School, Kurume University, Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan
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Khanade K, Sasangohar F. Efficacy of Using Heart Rate Measurements as an Indicator to Monitor Anxiety Disorders: A Scoping Literature Review. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1177/1541931213601927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a prevalent disorder affecting veterans, first responders, children and others who have experienced traumatic events. Heart rate measures like resting heart rates along with heart rate accelerations are important measures to monitor the changes in the state of PTSD and other related disorders. A scoping review was conducted to investigate the efficacy of using heart rate (HR) measurements as reliable indicator for assessment of PTSD and other anxiety-related disorders. Findings show that while Heart Rate Variability (HRV) may provide a more robust measurement of PTSD and other anxiety-related symptoms, heart rate accelerations in response to traumatic reminders are reliable indicators. Changes in resting or basal heart rates show promise in long-term monitoring of PTSD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunal Khanade
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
| | - Farzan Sasangohar
- Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX
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Positive Association Between Nightmares and Heart Rate Response to Loud Tones: Relationship to Parasympathetic Dysfunction in PTSD Nightmares. J Nerv Ment Dis 2017; 205:308-312. [PMID: 28129305 PMCID: PMC5373938 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000000641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Seventy-three women with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) resulting from rape or physical assault participated in a loud-tone procedure, while skin conductance (SC), heart rate, and electromyogram responses were recorded. Pearson correlations were examined between each psychophysiological response and Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) symptom scores. Significant correlations were adjusted for each remaining individual PTSD symptom score. Heart rate response (HRR) significantly correlated with CAPS total score and with CAPS nightmares. The relationship between HRR and nightmares remained significant after controlling for each of the other 16 individual PTSD symptoms, for the remaining reexperiencing cluster, and for CAPS total score. The zero-order correlations between SC response and nightmares and between electromyography response and nightmares were both not significant. The association of nightmares with larger HRR in the absence of an association with larger SC response likely reflects reduced parasympathetic tone. Thus, our findings indirectly support a role for reduced parasympathetic tone in PTSD nightmares.
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Mehta R, Singh A, Mallick BN. Disciplined sleep for healthy living: Role of noradrenaline. World J Neurol 2017; 7:6-23. [DOI: 10.5316/wjn.v7.i1.6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Revised: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sleep is essential for maintaining normal physiological processes. It has been broadly divided into rapid eye movement sleep (REMS) and non-REMS (NREMS); one spends the least amount of time in REMS. Sleep (both NREMS and REMS) disturbance is associated with most altered states, disorders and pathological conditions. It is affected by factors within the body as well as the environment, which ultimately modulate lifestyle. Noradrenaline (NA) is one of the key molecules whose level increases upon sleep-loss, REMS-loss in particular and it induces several REMS-loss associated effects and symptoms. The locus coeruleus (LC)-NAergic neurons are primarily responsible for providing NA throughout the brain. As those neurons project to and receive inputs from across the brain, they are modulated by lifestyle changes, which include changes within the body as well as in the environment. We have reviewed the literature showing how various inputs from outside and within the body integrate at the LC neuronal level to modulate sleep (NREMS and REMS) and vice versa. We propose that these changes modulate NA levels in the brain, which in turn is responsible for acute as well as chronic psycho-somatic disorders and pathological conditions.
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Mysliwiec V, Brock MS, Creamer JL, O'Reilly BM, Germain A, Roth BJ. Trauma associated sleep disorder: A parasomnia induced by trauma. Sleep Med Rev 2017; 37:94-104. [PMID: 28363448 DOI: 10.1016/j.smrv.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/20/2017] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Mysliwiec
- San Antonio Military Medical Center, Department of Sleep Medicine, 2200 Bergquist Drive, Suite 1, JBSA Lackland, TX 78236, USA.
| | - Matthew S Brock
- San Antonio Military Medical Center, Department of Sleep Medicine, 2200 Bergquist Drive, Suite 1, JBSA Lackland, TX 78236, USA
| | - Jennifer L Creamer
- Madigan Army Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Tacoma, WA, USA
| | - Brian M O'Reilly
- Madigan Army Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Tacoma, WA, USA
| | - Anne Germain
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Psychology, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Bernard J Roth
- Madigan Army Medical Center, Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Tacoma, WA, USA
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Morris MC, Hellman N, Abelson JL, Rao U. Cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure as early markers of PTSD risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Psychol Rev 2016; 49:79-91. [PMID: 27623149 PMCID: PMC5079809 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2016.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2015] [Revised: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) typically exhibit altered hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity. The goals of this study were to determine whether HPA and SNS alterations in the immediate aftermath of trauma predict subsequent PTSD symptom development and whether inconsistencies observed between studies can be explained by key demographic and methodological factors. This work informs secondary prevention of PTSD by identifying subgroups of trauma survivors at risk for PTSD. This meta-analysis (26 studies, N=5186 individuals) revealed that higher heart rate measured soon after trauma exposure was associated with higher PTSD symptoms subsequently (r=0.13). Neither cortisol (r=-0.07) nor blood pressure (diastolic: r=-0.01; systolic: r=0.02) were associated with PTSD symptoms which may be influenced by methodological limitations. Associations between risk markers (heart rate, cortisol, systolic blood pressure) and PTSD symptoms were in the positive direction for younger samples and negative direction for older samples. These findings extend developmental traumatology models of PTSD by revealing an age-related shift in the presentation of early risk markers. More work will be needed to identify risk markers and pathways to PTSD while addressing methodological limitations in order to shape and target preventive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Morris
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, United States; Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, United States; Department of Psychology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States.
| | - Natalie Hellman
- Department of Psychology, The University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK, United States
| | - James L Abelson
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Uma Rao
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; Center for Behavioral Health Research, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, United States
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40
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Treatment-refractory posttraumatic stress disorder (TRPTSD): a review and framework for the future. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2016; 70:170-218. [PMID: 26854815 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2016.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Revised: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious psychiatric consequence of trauma that occurs in a proportion of individuals exposed to life-threatening events. Trauma-focused psychotherapy is often recommended as first choice for those who do not recover spontaneously. But many individuals require medications. In the US, only paroxetine (PRX) and sertraline (SRT) are FDA approved for PTSD. But response and remission rates with these medications are low, so numerous other pharmacologic interventions have been tried. To date, there has not been a systematic review of the data on what are the best next-step pharmacologic strategies for individuals who fail standard treatments. To that end, we review 168 published trials of medications other than PRX or SRT and provide a detailed analysis of the 88/168 studies that describe alternative pharmacologic interventions in patients refractory to other treatment. We also review clinical factors relevant to treatment-refractory PTSD; the neurobiology of extinction, as well as evidence-based psychotherapy and neuromodulation strategies for this condition.
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41
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Rissling MB, Dennis PA, Watkins LL, Calhoun PS, Dennis MF, Beckham JC, Hayano J, Ulmer CS. Circadian Contrasts in Heart Rate Variability Associated With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in a Young Adult Cohort. J Trauma Stress 2016; 29:415-421. [PMID: 27603025 PMCID: PMC5108045 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2015] [Revised: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Prior research has demonstrated that individuals exposed to trauma have shown impaired autonomic function. We sought to determine if heart rate variability (HRV), a marker of impaired autonomic function, differed across periods of wake, rest, and sleep as a function of the level of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A sample of young adults (N = 209), 95 of whom met full criteria for current PTSD based on the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS; Blake et al., 1995), were evaluated for ≈ 24 hr using actigraphy and electrocardiogram. Actigraphy data were categorized as active, rest, or sleep. Multilevel modeling analyses showed that individuals with high PTSD symptom severity had lower high-frequency HRV than individuals with low PTSD symptom severity during periods of sleep, t(1083) = 2.20, p = .028, Cohen's d = 0.12. No differences were found during periods of activity, t(1083) = 1.34, p = .499, d = 0.05, or rest, t(1083) = 1.34, p = .180, d = 0.09. Our findings extended the import of prior studies to suggest that those with elevated PTSD symptoms may have decreased parasympathetic control during sleep. Moreover, relative to periods of wake and rest, sleep may represent a state of increased vulnerability for decreased parasympathetic cardiac control. Individuals with elevated PTSD symptoms may benefit from early screening for detection of cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle B. Rissling
- Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Region Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Paul A. Dennis
- Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Research and Development, Durham, North Carolina, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lana L. Watkins
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Patrick S. Calhoun
- Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Region Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA,Durham Veterans Affairs Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michelle F. Dennis
- Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Region Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA,Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Research and Development, Durham, North Carolina, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jean C. Beckham
- Veterans Affairs Mid-Atlantic Region Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA,Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Research and Development, Durham, North Carolina, USA,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Junichiro Hayano
- Department of Medical Education, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Japan
| | - Christi S. Ulmer
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA,Durham Veterans Affairs Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Kobayashi I, Lavela J, Bell K, Mellman TA. The impact of posttraumatic stress disorder versus resilience on nocturnal autonomic nervous system activity as functions of sleep stage and time of sleep. Physiol Behav 2016; 164:11-8. [PMID: 27169331 PMCID: PMC4983207 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 04/27/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with sleep disturbances including alterations in sleep stages and recently, elevated nocturnal autonomic nervous system (ANS) arousal (i.e., dominance of the sympathetic nervous system over the parasympathetic nervous system). Data suggest that sleep contributes to the regulation of ANS activity. In our previous ambulatory heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring study, strong relationships between sleep and nocturnal ANS activity in resilient participants (i.e., individuals who had never had PTSD despite exposure to high-impact trauma) were not seen with PTSD. In this study, we examined the impact of PTSD vs. resilience on ANS activity as a function of sleep stage and time of sleep. Participants (age 18-35) with current PTSD (n=38) and resilience (n=33) completed two overnight polysomnography recordings in a lab setting. The second night electrocardiogram was analyzed for frequency domain HRV parameters and heart rate within rapid-eye-movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep periods. Results indicated that ANS arousal indexed by HRV was greater during REM compared with NREM sleep and that the REM-NREM difference was greater in the PTSD than in the resilient participants. This effect of PTSD was reduced to non-significance when analyses controlled for REM sleep percentage, which was lower with PTSD. Exploratory analyses revealed that the REM-NREM difference in HRV was correlated with REM sleep percentage in resilient participants, but not with PTSD. In contrast with our data from home settings, the present study did not find increased overall nocturnal ANS arousal with PTSD. Analyses did reveal higher heart rate during initial NREM sleep with more rapid decline over the course of NREM sleep with PTSD compared with resilience. Findings suggest that elevated ANS arousal indexed by heart rate with PTSD is specific to the early part of sleep and possible impairment in regulating ANS activity with PTSD related to REM sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ihori Kobayashi
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Howard University College of Medicine, 520 W St. NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA.
| | - Joseph Lavela
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Howard University College of Medicine, 520 W St. NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Kimberly Bell
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Howard University College of Medicine, 520 W St. NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Thomas A Mellman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Howard University College of Medicine, 520 W St. NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA
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Agorastos A, Linthorst ACE. Potential pleiotropic beneficial effects of adjuvant melatonergic treatment in posttraumatic stress disorder. J Pineal Res 2016; 61:3-26. [PMID: 27061919 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Loss of circadian rhythmicity fundamentally affects the neuroendocrine, immune, and autonomic system, similar to chronic stress and may play a central role in the development of stress-related disorders. Recent articles have focused on the role of sleep and circadian disruption in the pathophysiology of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suggesting that chronodisruption plays a causal role in PTSD development. Direct and indirect human and animal PTSD research suggests circadian system-linked neuroendocrine, immune, metabolic and autonomic dysregulation, linking circadian misalignment to PTSD pathophysiology. Recent experimental findings also support a specific role of the fundamental synchronizing pineal hormone melatonin in mechanisms of sleep, cognition and memory, metabolism, pain, neuroimmunomodulation, stress endocrinology and physiology, circadian gene expression, oxidative stress and epigenetics, all processes affected in PTSD. In the current paper, we review available literature underpinning a potentially beneficiary role of an add-on melatonergic treatment in PTSD pathophysiology and PTSD-related symptoms. The literature is presented as a narrative review, providing an overview on the most important and clinically relevant publications. We conclude that adjuvant melatonergic treatment could provide a potentially promising treatment strategy in the management of PTSD and especially PTSD-related syndromes and comorbidities. Rigorous preclinical and clinical studies are needed to validate this hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agorastos Agorastos
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Astrid C E Linthorst
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Neurobiology of Stress and Behaviour Research Group, School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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Zuj DV, Palmer MA, Lommen MJJ, Felmingham KL. The centrality of fear extinction in linking risk factors to PTSD: A narrative review. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 69:15-35. [PMID: 27461912 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2016] [Revised: 07/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent prospective studies in emergency services have identified impaired fear extinction learning and memory to be a significant predictor of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), complementing a wealth of cross-sectional evidence of extinction deficits associated with the disorder. Additional fields of research show specific risk factors and biomarkers of the disorder, including candidate genotypes, stress and sex hormones, cognitive factors, and sleep disturbances. Studies in mostly nonclinical populations also reveal that the aforementioned factors are involved in fear extinction learning and memory. Here, we provide a comprehensive narrative review of the literature linking PTSD to these risk factors, and linking these risk factors to impaired fear extinction. On balance, the evidence suggests that fear extinction may play a role in the relationship between risk factors and PTSD. Should this notion hold true, this review carries important implications for the improvement of exposure-based treatments, as well as strategies for the implementation of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel V Zuj
- Division of Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia.
| | - Matthew A Palmer
- Division of Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Miriam J J Lommen
- Department of Psychology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Kim L Felmingham
- Division of Psychology, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia
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45
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Baglioni C, Nanovska S, Regen W, Spiegelhalder K, Feige B, Nissen C, Reynolds CF, Riemann D. Sleep and mental disorders: A meta-analysis of polysomnographic research. Psychol Bull 2016; 142:969-990. [PMID: 27416139 DOI: 10.1037/bul0000053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 502] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Investigating sleep in mental disorders has the potential to reveal both disorder-specific and transdiagnostic psychophysiological mechanisms. This meta-analysis aimed at determining the polysomnographic (PSG) characteristics of several mental disorders. Relevant studies were searched through standard strategies. Controlled PSG studies evaluating sleep in affective, anxiety, eating, pervasive developmental, borderline and antisocial personality disorders, attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and schizophrenia were included. PSG variables of sleep continuity, depth, and architecture, as well as rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep were considered. Calculations were performed with the "Comprehensive Meta-Analysis" and "R" software. Using random effects modeling, for each disorder and each variable, a separate meta-analysis was conducted if at least 3 studies were available for calculation of effect sizes as standardized means (Hedges' g). Sources of variability, that is, sex, age, and mental disorders comorbidity, were evaluated in subgroup analyses. Sleep alterations were evidenced in all disorders, with the exception of ADHD and seasonal affective disorders. Sleep continuity problems were observed in most mental disorders. Sleep depth and REM pressure alterations were associated with affective, anxiety, autism and schizophrenia disorders. Comorbidity was associated with enhanced REM sleep pressure and more inhibition of sleep depth. No sleep parameter was exclusively altered in 1 condition; however, no 2 conditions shared the same PSG profile. Sleep continuity disturbances imply a transdiagnostic imbalance in the arousal system likely representing a basic dimension of mental health. Sleep depth and REM variables might play a key role in psychiatric comorbidity processes. Constellations of sleep alterations may define distinct disorders better than alterations in 1 single variable. (PsycINFO Database Record
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wolfram Regen
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology
| | | | - Bernd Feige
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychophysiology
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Noradrenergic dysregulation in the pathophysiology of PTSD. Exp Neurol 2016; 284:181-195. [PMID: 27222130 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2016] [Revised: 05/07/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A central role for noradrenergic dysregulation in the pathophysiology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is increasingly suggested by both clinical and basic neuroscience research. Here, we integrate recent findings from clinical and animal research with the earlier literature. We first review the evidence for net upregulation of the noradrenergic system and its responsivity to stress in individuals with PTSD. Next, we trace the evidence that the α1 noradrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin decreases many of the symptoms of PTSD from initial clinical observations, to case series, to randomized controlled trials. Finally, we review the basic science work that has begun to explain the mechanism for this efficacy, as well as to explore its possible limitations and areas for further advancement. We suggest a view of the noradrenergic system as a central, modifiable link in a network of interconnected stress-response systems, which also includes the amygdala and its modulation by medial prefrontal cortex. Particular attention is paid to the evidence for bidirectional signaling between noradrenaline and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) in coordinating these interconnected systems. The multiple different ways in which the sensitivity and reactivity of the noradrenergic system may be altered in PTSD are highlighted, as is the evidence for possible heterogeneity in the pathophysiology of PTSD between different individuals who appear clinically similar. We conclude by noting the importance moving forward of improved measures of noradrenergic functioning in clinical populations, which will allow better recognition of clinical heterogeneity and further assessment of the functional implications of different aspects of noradrenergic dysregulation.
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47
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Exploring the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and momentary heart rate variability. J Psychosom Res 2016; 82:31-34. [PMID: 26944396 PMCID: PMC4779501 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Exposure to trauma-related cues has been associated with a prolonged decrease in heart rate variability (HRV) under laboratory conditions, however the relationship between PTSD symptoms and HRV has not been evaluated during everyday life. The present study sought to determine whether Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) symptoms reported during everyday life were related to reduced HRV. METHODOLOGY Eighty-three young adults with PTSD underwent 24-hour Holter monitoring, during which PTSD symptoms were measured using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). Multilevel modeling was used to examine the association between PTSD symptom severity and low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) HRV. RESULTS PTSD symptoms were associated with reductions in LF HRV, independently of age and activity level. There was no significant association between PTSD symptom levels and HF HRV. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that an association between momentary PTSD symptom severity and reduced LF HRV is significant and observable in young adults with PTSD. Findings highlight the need for cardiovascular screening in young adults with PTSD and early interventions that target physiological reactivity in PTSD.
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Cox RC, Olatunji BO. A systematic review of sleep disturbance in anxiety and related disorders. J Anxiety Disord 2016; 37:104-29. [PMID: 26745517 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2015.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 213] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2015] [Revised: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Recent research suggests that sleep disturbance may be a transdiagnostic process, and there is increasing interest in examining how sleep disturbance may contribute to anxiety and related disorders. The current review summarizes and synthesizes the extant research assessing sleep in anxiety and related disorders. The findings suggest that sleep disturbance exacerbates symptom severity in the majority of anxiety and related disorders. However, the nature of sleep disturbance often varies as a function of objective versus subjective assessment. Although sleep disturbance is a correlate of most anxiety and related disorders, a causal role for sleep disturbance is less clear. A model of potential mechanisms by which sleep disturbance may confer risk for the development of anxiety and related disorders is discussed. Future research integrating findings from basic sleep research with current knowledge of anxiety and related disorders may facilitate the development of novel treatments for comorbid sleep disturbance and clinical anxiety.
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Ho FYY, Chan CS, Tang KNS. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for sleep disturbances in treating posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Psychol Rev 2015; 43:90-102. [PMID: 26439674 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpr.2015.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2015] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Sleep disturbances are frequently reported in patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). There is evidence that sleep disturbance is not only a secondary symptom but also a risk factor for PTSD. Sleep-specific psychological treatments provide an alternative to conventional trauma-focused psychological treatments. The current meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of sleep-specific cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in mitigating PTSD, sleep, and depressive symptoms. A total of 11 randomized controlled trials were included in the meta-analytic comparisons between sleep-specific CBT and waiting-list control groups at posttreatment. Random effects models showed significant reduction in self-report PTSD and depressive symptoms and insomnia severity in the sleep-specific CBT group. The corresponding effect sizes, measured in Hedges' g, were 0.58, 0.44, and 1.15, respectively. The effect sizes for sleep diary-derived sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, and sleep efficiency were 0.83, 1.02 and 1.15, respectively. The average study attrition rate of sleep-specific CBT was relatively low (12.8%), with no significant difference from the control group (9.4%). In conclusion, sleep-specific CBT appears to be efficacious and feasible in treating PTSD symptoms. Due to the relatively small number of randomized controlled trials available, further research is warranted to confirm its efficacy and acceptability, especially in comparison to trauma-specific psychological treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Yan-Yee Ho
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Christian S Chan
- Department of Psychology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
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Pace-Schott EF, Germain A, Milad MR. Sleep and REM sleep disturbance in the pathophysiology of PTSD: the role of extinction memory. BIOLOGY OF MOOD & ANXIETY DISORDERS 2015; 5:3. [PMID: 26034578 PMCID: PMC4450835 DOI: 10.1186/s13587-015-0018-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 127] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is accompanied by disturbed sleep and an impaired ability to learn and remember extinction of conditioned fear. Following a traumatic event, the full spectrum of PTSD symptoms typically requires several months to develop. During this time, sleep disturbances such as insomnia, nightmares, and fragmented rapid eye movement sleep predict later development of PTSD symptoms. Only a minority of individuals exposed to trauma go on to develop PTSD. We hypothesize that sleep disturbance resulting from an acute trauma, or predating the traumatic experience, may contribute to the etiology of PTSD. Because symptoms can worsen over time, we suggest that continued sleep disturbances can also maintain and exacerbate PTSD. Sleep disturbance may result in failure of extinction memory to persist and generalize, and we suggest that this constitutes one, non-exclusive mechanism by which poor sleep contributes to the development and perpetuation of PTSD. Also reviewed are neuroendocrine systems that show abnormalities in PTSD, and in which stress responses and sleep disturbance potentially produce synergistic effects that interfere with extinction learning and memory. Preliminary evidence that insomnia alone can disrupt sleep-dependent emotional processes including consolidation of extinction memory is also discussed. We suggest that optimizing sleep quality following trauma, and even strategically timing sleep to strengthen extinction memories therapeutically instantiated during exposure therapy, may allow sleep itself to be recruited in the treatment of PTSD and other trauma and stress-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward F. Pace-Schott
- />Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital—East, CNY 149 13th Street Room 2624, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
| | - Anne Germain
- />Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Mohammed R. Milad
- />Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital—East, CNY 149 13th Street Room 2624, Charlestown, MA 02129 USA
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