@article{ref1,
title="Sleep characteristics and inflammatory markers in women with post-traumatic stress disorder",
journal="BMC psychiatry",
year="2023",
author="Yeh, Mary Sau Ling and Poyares, Dalva and D'Elia, Ana Teresa D. and Coimbra, Bruno M. and Mello, Andrea Feijó and Tufik, Sergio and Mello, Marcelo Feijo",
volume="23",
number="1",
pages="e273-e273",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Sexual violence is one of the most severe traumatic events. It is associated with a higher risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) development. Sleep disturbances such as insomnia are frequently reported by PTSD patients and play a key role in the development and course of the disorder. Sleep disturbances are associated with higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines emphasizing the importance of sleep studies in individuals with PTSD. <br><br>OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between subjective and objective sleep measurements and PTSD symptoms with inflammatory markers in women with PTSD following sexual assault. <br><br>METHODS: In this longitudinal study fifty-seven women with PTSD were evaluated for sleep measurements and inflammatory markers. Participants completed the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Insomnia Severity Index. In addition, patients underwent full in-lab polysomnography and serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and C-reactive protein (CRP) measurement. All assessments were performed at baseline and after one year. Patients received pharmacological and/or psychological interventions between baseline and one-year follow-up. <br><br>RESULTS: Despite improving PTSD symptoms severity and sleep quality (expressed in PSQI), we found an increase in the inflammatory markers IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP after one year of follow-up. These findings suggest that neurobiological processes may advance independently of PTSD symptoms. We found a significant increase in the levels of IL-1β and TNF-α associated with decreased slow-wave sleep (p = 0.019 and p = 0.018 respectively), IL-6 associated with arousal index (p = 0.024), and CRP associated with insomnia severity (p = 0.012), and sleep duration longer than 6 h per night (p < 0.001). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Sleep impairments in PTSD may be associated with a gradual and persistent alteration in the immune system, resulting in a progressive inflammatory process. Our results suggest that sleep mechanisms are involved in this incident inflammatory process in young women with PTSD.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1471-244X",
doi="10.1186/s12888-023-04765-1",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04765-1"
}