The role of sleep disturbances in the maintenance of PTSD symptoms: a literature review
Eurasian Journal of Current Research in Psychology and Pedagogy February 13, 2026 G. K. Slanbekova
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia and trauma-related nightmares, affect up to 90% of individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This review of empirical studies, meta-analyses, and clinical trials published between 2010 and 2025 indicates that disrupted sleep architecture contributes to impaired emotional regulation, deficits in memory consolidation, and heightened threat sensitivity, thereby exacerbating daytime PTSD symptoms. Evidence demonstrates that sleep-focused interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT), and pharmacological treatments, effectively reduce sleep problems and lead to improvements in core PTSD symptoms. The findings suggest that early and integrated treatment of sleep disturbances may enhance overall PTSD recovery.