Dataset Information

Autonomic activity, posttraumatic and nontraumatic nightmares, and PTSD after trauma exposure.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Nightmares are a hallmark symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This strong association may reflect a shared pathophysiology in the form of altered autonomic activity and increased reactivity. Using an acoustic startle paradigm, we investigated the interrelationships of psychophysiological measures during wakefulness and PTSD diagnosis, posttraumatic nightmares, and nontraumatic nightmares.

Methods

A community sample of 122 trauma survivors were presented with a series of brief loud tones, while heart rate (HRR), skin conductance (SCR), and orbicularis oculi electromyogram (EMGR) responses were measured. Prior to the tone presentations, resting heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed. Nightmares were measured using nightmare logs. Three dichotomous groupings of participants were compared: (1) current PTSD diagnosis (n = 59), no PTSD diagnosis (n = 63), (2) those with (n = 26) or without (n = 96) frequent posttraumatic nightmares, and (3) those with (n = 22) or without (n = 100) frequent nontraumatic nightmares.

Results

PTSD diagnosis was associated with posttraumatic but not with nontraumatic nightmares. Both PTSD and posttraumatic nightmares were associated with a larger mean HRR to loud tones, whereas nontraumatic nightmare frequency was associated with a larger SCR. EMGR and resting HRV were not associated with PTSD diagnosis or nightmares.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest a shared pathophysiology between PTSD and posttraumatic nightmares in the form of increased HR reactivity to startling tones, which might reflect reduced parasympathetic tone. This shared pathophysiology could explain why PTSD is more strongly related to posttraumatic than nontraumatic nightmares, which could have important clinical implications.

SUBMITTER: Mader T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9121310 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Autonomic activity, posttraumatic and nontraumatic nightmares, and PTSD after trauma exposure.

Mäder Thomas T Oliver Katelyn I KI Daffre Carolina C Kim Sophie S Orr Scott P SP Lasko Natasha B NB Seo Jeehye J Kleim Birgit B Pace-Schott Edward Franz EF

Psychological medicine 20210615 3

<h4>Background</h4>Nightmares are a hallmark symptom of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This strong association may reflect a shared pathophysiology in the form of altered autonomic activity and increased reactivity. Using an acoustic startle paradigm, we investigated the interrelationships of psychophysiological measures during wakefulness and PTSD diagnosis, posttraumatic nightmares, and nontraumatic nightmares.<h4>Methods</h4>A community sample of 122 trauma survivors were presented wit ...[more]

PMID: 34127168

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Dataset Information

Autonomic activity, posttraumatic and nontraumatic nightmares, and PTSD after trauma exposure.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Autonomic activity, posttraumatic and nontraumatic nightmares, and PTSD after trauma exposure.

Similar Datasets

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