1081 Associations Among REM Density And Parasympathetic Activity, Nightmares, And Hyperarousal In Trauma-exposed Individuals. (27th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oliver, K I; Hinton, J A; Daffre, C; Dominguez, J; Seo, J; Gannon, K; Lasko, N B; Pace-Schott, E F
• Is Part Of: Sleep. Volume 43(2020)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A411
• Page End: A412
• Publication Date: 2020-05-27
• Subjects: Sleep -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sleep disorders -- Periodicals; Sommeil -- Aspect physiologique -- Périodiques; Sommeil, Troubles du -- Périodiques; Sleep disorders; Sleep -- Physiological aspects; Sleep -- physiological aspects; Sleep Wake Disorders; Psychophysiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.8498
• DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsaa056.1077
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0161-8105

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exhibit autonomic hyperarousal and nightmares. We hypothesized that REM density (REMD) and REM heart rate variability would predict self-reported hyperarousal, nightmares, and PTSD diagnosis in trauma-exposed individuals. Methods: Ninety-nine individuals (aged 18-40, 68 females) exposed to a DSM-5 PTSD criterion-A trauma within the past two years (48 meeting PTSD criteria) completed a night of ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) preceded by an acclimation night. REMD in scored sleep recordings were computed using the Matlab program written by Benjamin Yetton. Indices of parasympathetic tone during REM were computed using Kubios software and included Average Root Mean Square of the Successive Differences (RMSSD) and High Frequency power (HFpower). Participants completed two weeks of sleep diaries with nightmare questionnaire and completed the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Hyperarousal-item scores were computed from the PCL-5 without the sleep item (PCLhyp) and from the CAPS-5 (CAPShyp), and these scores (with their sleep items) were combined into a Composite Hyperarousal Index (CHI). Nightmare rate was the proportion of sleep diaries reporting a nightmare. Simple regressions measured associations among REMD, REM parasympathetic indices, hyperarousal measures, and nightmare rate. Results: REMD did not significantly predict PTSD diagnosis or hyperarousal scores but did predict decreased parasympathetic activity for both RMSSD (p= 0.002, R= -0.316) and HFpower (p= 0.016 R= -0.250). REMD predicted increased nightmare rate (p= 0.011 R= 0.262). Parasympathetic tone was negatively correlated with CAPShyp, PCLhyp, and CHI for both RMSSD (p= 0.04, 0.011, <0.000, respectively) and HFpower (p= 0.051, 0.021, 0.010, respectively). Lower parasympathetic tone also predicted PTSD diagnosis with both RMSSD (p=0.012, t=2.559) and HFpower (p=0.010, t=2.627), but did not predict nightmare rate. Conclusion: REMD predicted decreased parasympathetic tone and higher nightmare rate. Parasympathetic tone, but not REMD, predicted hyperarousal and PTSD diagnosis. Support: R01MH109638