Obstructive sleep apnea in combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder: a controlled polysomnography study

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Psychiatry
• Military Health

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is suspected to be highly prevalent in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and may worsen PTSD symptoms.
• Investigating the relationship between OSA and PTSD in veterans is crucial for understanding comorbid conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of OSA in Dutch veterans with PTSD compared to controls.
• To assess the association between OSA and the severity of PTSD complaints.

Main Methods:

• Polysomnography was used to measure apnea-hypopnea indices (AHI) in 20 veterans with PTSD, 24 veterans without PTSD, and 17 healthy controls.
• PTSD severity and nightmare complaints were evaluated using the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS).

Main Results:

• The prevalence of AHI>10 was 29% in PTSD, 21% in trauma controls, and 29% in healthy controls.
• Patients with OSA (n=6) had significantly higher mean CAPS scores than those without OSA (p<0.05).
• A significant positive correlation was found between AHI and CAPS scores in PTSD patients (r=0.46, p<0.05).

Conclusions:

• PTSD is not necessarily linked to a higher prevalence of OSA.
• PTSD severity is related to OSA, suggesting comorbid OSA may increase PTSD complaints.
• Future research should explore if OSA negatively impacts PTSD and if OSA treatment alleviates PTSD symptoms.