scholarly journals Sleep spindle dynamics suggest over-consolidation in post-traumatic stress disorder

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna C van der Heijden ◽  
Winni F Hofman ◽  
Marieke de Boer ◽  
Mirjam J Nijdam ◽  
Hein JF van Marle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Memory Consolidation ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Detection Method ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Spindle Activity ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Intrusive Memory

Devastating and persisting traumatic memories are a central symptom of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Sleep problems are highly co-occurrent with PTSD and intertwined with its etiology. Notably, sleep hosts memory consolidation processes, supported by sleep spindles (11-16 Hz). Here we assess the hypothesis that intrusive memory symptoms in PTSD may arise from excessive memory consolidation, reflected in exaggerated spindling. We use a newly developed spindle detection method, entailing minimal assumptions regarding spindle phenotype, to assess spindle activity in PTSD patients and traumatized controls (n=2x14, matched on gender). Our results show increased spindle activity in PTSD, which positively correlates with daytime intrusive memory symptoms. Together, these findings provide a putative mechanism through which profound sleep disturbance in PTSD may contribute to memory problems. Due to its uniform and unbiased approach, the new, minimal assumption spindle detection method seems a promising tool to detect aberrant spindling in psychiatric disorders.

scholarly journals The spectral fingerprint of sleep problems in post-traumatic stress disorder

SLEEP ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M de Boer ◽  
M J Nijdam ◽  
R A Jongedijk ◽  
K A Bangel ◽  
M Olff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Disorders ◽  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Nrem Sleep ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Oscillation Power ◽  
Post Traumatic

Abstract Study Objectives Sleep problems are a core feature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of this study was to find a robust objective measure for the sleep disturbance in patients having PTSD. Methods The current study assessed EEG power across a wide frequency range and multiple scalp locations, in matched trauma-exposed individuals with and without PTSD, during rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep. In addition, a full polysomnographical evaluation was performed, including sleep staging and assessment of respiratory function, limb movements, and heart rate. The occurrence of sleep disorders was also assessed. Results In patients having PTSD, NREM sleep shows a substantial loss of slow oscillation power and increased higher frequency activity compared with controls. The change is most pronounced over right-frontal sensors and correlates with insomnia. PTSD REM sleep shows a large power shift in the opposite direction, with increased slow oscillation power over occipital areas, which is strongly related to nightmare activity and to a lesser extent with insomnia. These pronounced spectral changes occur in the context of severe subjective sleep problems, increased occurrence of various sleep disorders and modest changes in sleep macrostructure. Conclusions This is the first study to show pronounced changes in EEG spectral topologies during both NREM and REM sleep in PTSD. Importantly, the observed power changes reflect the hallmarks of PTSD sleep problems: insomnia and nightmares and may thus be specific for PTSD. A spectral index derived from these data distinguishes patients from controls with high effect size, bearing promise as a candidate biomarker.

scholarly journals The Spectral Fingerprint of Sleep Problems in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. de Boer ◽  
M.J. Nijdam ◽  
R.A. Jongedijk ◽  
Olff ◽  
W.F. M. Hofman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Disorders ◽  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Nrem Sleep ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Oscillation Power ◽  
Post Traumatic

AbstractBACKGROUNDSleep problems are a core feature of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, a robust objective measure for the sleep disturbance in patients has yet to be found.METHODSThe current study assessed EEG power across a wide frequency range and multiple scalp locations, in matched trauma-exposed individuals with and without PTSD, during rapid eye movement (REM) and non-REM (NREM) sleep. In addition, a full polysomnographical evaluation was performed, including sleep staging and assessment of respiratory function, limb movements and heart rate. The occurrence of sleep disorders was also assessed.RESULTSIn PTSD patients, NREM sleep shows a substantial loss of slow oscillation power and increased higher frequency activity compared to controls. The change is most pronounced in right-frontal brain areas and correlates with insomnia. PTSD REM sleep shows a large power shift in the opposite direction, with increased slow oscillation power in occipital areas, which is strongly related to nightmare activity and to lesser extent with insomnia. These pronounced spectral changes occur in the context of severe subjective sleep problems, increased occurrence of various sleep disorders and modest changes in sleep macrostructure.CONCLUSIONSThis is the first study to show pronounced changes in EEG spectral topologies during both NREM and REM sleep in PTSD. Importantly, the observed power changes reflect the hallmarks of PTSD sleep problems: insomnia and nightmares and may thus be specific for PTSD. A spectral index derived from these data distinguishes patients from controls with high effect size, bearing promise as a candidate biomarker.

scholarly journals Differences in Intrusive Memory Experiences in Post-traumatic Stress Disorder after Single, Re- and Prolonged Traumatization

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helge H. Müller ◽  
Sebastian Moeller ◽  
Konstanze Jenderek ◽  
Armin Stroebel ◽  
Kurt Wiendieck ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Intrusive Memory

scholarly journals The uniqueness of the DSM definition of post-traumatic stress disorder: implications for research

2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 573-576 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. BRESLAU ◽  
G. A. CHASE ◽  
J. C. ANTHONY
Keyword(s):  
Major Depression ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Traumatic Event ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Specific Syndrome ◽  
Post Traumatic ◽  
Definition Of

The official definition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in DSM-III and is subsequent DSM editions is based on a conceptual model that brackets traumatic or catastrophic events from less severe stressors and links them with a specific syndrome. The diagnosis of PTSD requires an identifiable stressor and the content of the defining symptoms refers to the stressor, for example, re-experiencing the stressor and avoidance of stimuli that symbolize the stressor. Temporal ordering is also required: when sleep problems and other symptoms of hyperarousal are part of the clinical picture, they must not have been present before the stressor occurred. The ICD-10 definition of PTSD follows the same model. The defining symptoms alone, without a connection to the stressor, are not regarded as PTSD (Green et al. 1995). Since the introduction of PTSD in DSM-III, the official definition has been adopted in most studies, although discussions about the validity of the definition has continued (Breslau & Davis, 1987; Davidson & Foa, 1993; Green et al. 1995). Although it is widely believed that other disorders (e.g. major depression) can be precipitated by external events, these disorders can occur independent of stressors and do not require a link with a traumatic event in their diagnostic criteria. Previous classifications that separated major depression into stress-related (reactive) or endogenous have been abandoned in newer versions of the DSM, because of lack of evidence of the validity of this distinction.

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