scholarly journals Nightmare Disorder and Isolated Sleep Paralysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ambra Stefani ◽  
Birgit Högl
Keyword(s):  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Fear Of Falling ◽  
Sleep Paralysis ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Imagery Rehearsal Therapy ◽  
Falling Asleep ◽  
Rem Atonia ◽  
Nightmare Disorder ◽  
Isolated Sleep Paralysis ◽  
Dissociated State

AbstractNightmare disorder and recurrent isolated sleep paralysis are rapid eye movement (REM) parasomnias that cause significant distress to those who suffer from them. Nightmare disorder can cause insomnia due to fear of falling asleep through dread of nightmare occurrence. Hyperarousal and impaired fear extinction are involved in nightmare generation, as well as brain areas involved in emotion regulation. Nightmare disorder is particularly frequent in psychiatric disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder. Nonmedication treatment, in particular imagery rehearsal therapy, is especially effective. Isolated sleep paralysis is experienced at least once by up to 40% of the general population, whereas recurrence is less frequent. Isolated sleep paralysis can be accompanied by very intense and vivid hallucinations. Sleep paralysis represents a dissociated state, with persistence of REM atonia into wakefulness. Variations in circadian rhythm genes might be involved in their pathogenesis. Predisposing factors include sleep deprivation, irregular sleep–wake schedules, and jetlag. The most effective therapy consists of avoiding those factors.

scholarly journals Daily variation in sleep characteristics in individuals with and without post traumatic stress disorder

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Quinn M. Biggs ◽  
Robert J. Ursano ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Gary H. Wynn ◽  
Rohul Amin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Daily Variation ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Falling Asleep ◽  
Post Traumatic

Abstract Background Sleep disturbances are common in individuals with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, little is known about how daily variation in sleep characteristics is related to PTSD. This study examined the night-to-night and weekday versus weekend variation in sleep duration, sleep quality, trouble falling asleep, and difficulty staying asleep in individuals with and without PTSD. Methods Participants (N = 157; 80 with PTSD, 77 without PTSD) completed daily self-reports of their nighttime sleep characteristics for 15 consecutive days. Linear mixed models were used to examine the associations between the 7 days of the week and weekday versus weekend variation in sleep characteristics and PTSD. Results Individuals with PTSD reported shorter sleep duration, lower sleep quality, more trouble falling asleep, and more difficulty staying asleep than individuals without PTSD. The pattern of change across the week and between weekdays and weekends was different between those with and without PTSD for sleep quality and trouble falling asleep. Among those with PTSD, sleep duration, sleep quality, and trouble falling asleep differed across the 7 days of the week and showed differences between weekdays and weekends. For those without PTSD, only sleep duration differed across the 7 days of the week and showed differences between weekdays and weekends. Neither group showed 7 days of the week nor weekday versus weekend differences in difficulty staying asleep. Conclusions On average those with PTSD had shorter sleep duration, poorer sleep quality, and greater trouble falling and staying asleep. In particular, the day of week variation in sleep quality and trouble falling asleep specifically distinguishes those with PTSD from those without PTSD. Our findings suggest that clinical care might be improved by assessments of sleep patterns and disturbances across at least a week, including weekdays and weekends. Future studies should explore the mechanisms related to the patterns of sleep disturbance among those with PTSD.

scholarly journals Genetic and Neuroimaging Approaches to Understanding Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 4503
Author(s):  
Sabah Nisar ◽  
Ajaz A. Bhat ◽  
Sheema Hashem ◽  
Najeeb Syed ◽  
Santosh K. Yadav ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Memory Function ◽  
Deep Understanding ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Social Burden ◽  
Post Traumatic

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly disabling condition, increasingly recognized as both a disorder of mental health and social burden, but also as an anxiety disorder characterized by fear, stress, and negative alterations in mood. PTSD is associated with structural, metabolic, and molecular changes in several brain regions and the neural circuitry. Brain areas implicated in the traumatic stress response include the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, which play an essential role in memory function. Abnormalities in these brain areas are hypothesized to underlie symptoms of PTSD and other stress-related psychiatric disorders. Conventional methods of studying PTSD have proven to be insufficient for diagnosis, measurement of treatment efficacy, and monitoring disease progression, and currently, there is no diagnostic biomarker available for PTSD. A deep understanding of cutting-edge neuroimaging genetic approaches is necessary for the development of novel therapeutics and biomarkers to better diagnose and treat the disorder. A current goal is to understand the gene pathways that are associated with PTSD, and how those genes act on the fear/stress circuitry to mediate risk vs. resilience for PTSD. This review article explains the rationale and practical utility of neuroimaging genetics in PTSD and how the resulting information can aid the diagnosis and clinical management of patients with PTSD.

scholarly journals Recurrent isolated sleep paralysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-56
Author(s):  
Jitka Bušková ◽  
Monika Kliková
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Paralysis ◽  
Isolated Sleep Paralysis

scholarly journals 1222 Does Creativity & “Dose” Enhance Outcomes in Imagery Rehearsal Therapy? A Case of Successful IRT

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A467-A467
Author(s):  
Alicia J Roth ◽  
Michelle Drerup
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Verbal Memory ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Guided Imagery ◽  
Average Intensity ◽  
Mild Depression ◽  
Written Narratives ◽  
Imagery Rehearsal Therapy ◽  
Nightmare Disorder ◽  
Imagery Rehearsal

Abstract Introduction Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) is an efficacious treatment for Nightmare Disorder. In IRT, patients practice pleasant guided imagery techniques, then use these skills to re-script recurring nightmares, which lowers the frequency and intensity of overall nightmare activity. However, the most efficacious methods and dosage of guided imagery and nightmare re-scripting is undetermined. Report of Case The patient was a 70-year-old male with Nightmare Disorder. Patient denied any precipitating event or trauma associated with nightmare onset. He has a longstanding history of depression and OSA (uses CPAP). He was taking Seroquel, which reduced severity of nightmares but not frequency. Trials of other medications for nightmares had failed (including prazosin, Depakote, and trazodone). Patient presented as highly distressed, exhibited distrust towards medical providers, and was skeptical about the effectiveness of IRT. Despite his skepticism, patient self-initiated very detailed and media-enhanced methods for pleasant guided imagery and nightmare re-scripting, including written narratives, voice recordings, and created a movie of his re-scripted nightmare with pictures set to music. He listened to the recordings 2-3x/day. Themes of nightmares included lack of mastery over problems; patient’s re-scripted dreams put him back in control of frightening scenarios. Nightmare logs at baseline showed sleep quality=1.9/5; average=2.0 nightmares/night; average intensity= 6.2/10. At week 15 of treatment, sleep quality=3/5; nightmares/night average=0.25; average intensity=6/10. Sleep disturbance also improved (ISI=18-moderately severe clinical insomnia to 11-subthreshold insomnia); mood was stable (PHQ=5-mild depression). Conclusion Previous studies have suggested that IRT increases patients’ sense of mastery or perceived self-efficacy over nightmares (Rousseau et al., 2018). Additionally, higher verbal memory in persons with trauma-related nightmares has been shown to improve nightmare frequency and severity in IRT (Scott et al., 2017). In this case study, self-efficacy may have been activated by the highly detailed and media-enhanced imagery the patient created. Further empirical research on the mechanisms for enhancing IRT is warranted.

scholarly journals Isolated sleep paralysis and fearful isolated sleep paralysis in outpatients with panic attacksb

2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (12) ◽  
pp. 1292-1306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian A. Sharpless ◽  
Kevin S. McCarthy ◽  
Dianne L. Chambless ◽  
Barbara L. Milrod ◽  
Shabad-Ratan Khalsa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Paralysis ◽  
Isolated Sleep Paralysis
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