Sleep Disturbances in PTSD: Insight from Clinical Studies.

Abstract

The review article on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sleep provides a comprehensive overview of circadian genes in PTSD-related sleep disturbances, drawing insights from patient studies. PTSD is often accompanied by significant sleep-related disturbances, which can manifest as nightmares, disrupted sleep continuity, and alterations in sleep architecture, particularly changes in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep-regulation. Despite the well-documented symptomatic complaints of poor sleep among PTSD patients, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. This review underscores the need for a deeper understanding of how PTSD affects sleep patterns, including the potential role of specific sleep stages like REM sleep. By synthesizing findings from various studies, the review aims to clarify these relationships and explore potential mechanisms, ultimately informing better diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for managing sleep disturbances in PTSD patients.