Trauma-Associated Sleep Disturbances: a Distinct Sleep Disorder?
Tara D Rachakonda, Nadir M Balba, Miranda M. Lim
Current Sleep Medicine Reports April 26, 2018 DOI: 10.1007/s40675-018-0119-2 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | PTSD |
| Keywords | Neurodegeneration Sleep disorder Nightmare disorder |
| Key findings | Argues that trauma-associated sleep disorder (TSD) is a proposed but controversial diagnostic entity that shares REM sleep without atonia and dream enactment with RBD, while uniquely featuring nightmares in both non-REM and REM sleep. The authors contend that TSD differs from PTSD by the latter's waking symptoms, that the TSD-PTSD relationship is unclear, and that whether TSD is distinct or linked to neurodegeneration requires research in more diverse populations. |
Abstract
Purpose of review: This paper describes a newly proposed sleep disorder, trauma-associated sleep disorder (TSD). Whether or not this represents a truly unique condition is controversial. In this paper, we describe the overlapping features and differences between TSD, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Recent findings: While REM sleep without atonia (RWA) and dream enactment are part of the diagnostic criteria for both RBD and TSD, only TSD features nightmares that occur both in non-REM and REM. A key difference between TSD and PTSD is the presence of symptoms during wakefulness in the latter, though the relationship between the two disorders is, as of yet, unclear. It is unknown whether or not a relationship exists between TSD and neurodegeneration, thus this needs to be explored further. Summary: Additional research, such as application of TSD diagnostic criteria to more diverse population, would help to determine whether or not TSD is a distinct clinical entity, its relationships to PTSD, as well as the association of this condition with the development of neurodegeneration.
Comparable studies
Other narrative reviews on PTSD, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychedelic Psychiatry's Brave New World. | 2020 | Review | |
| Reviewing the Potential of Psychedelics for the Treatment of PTSD | 2020 | Review | |
| Novel psychopharmacological therapies for psychiatric disorders: psilocybin and MDMA. | 2016 | Review | |
| MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD: Are memory reconsolidation and fear extinction underlying mechanisms? | 2018 | Review | |
| Clinical applications of hallucinogens: A review. | 2016 | Review |
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- Clinical and polysomnographic features of trauma associated sleep disorder. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine December 1, 2022
- Dream enactment behavior—a real nightmare: a review of post-traumatic stress disorder, REM sleep behavior disorder, and trauma-associated sleep disorder Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine August 17, 2020
- Dream enactment behavior: review for the clinician Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine August 3, 2020
- Management of Post-Traumatic Nightmares: a Review of Pharmacologic and Nonpharmacologic Treatments Since 2013. Current Psychiatry Reports October 11, 2018
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and 6 more in the library