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

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be highly prevalent in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and may exacerbate PTSD complaints.

Our objective was to determine whether the prevalence of OSA was high in a sample of Dutch veterans with PTSD as compared to age- and trauma-matched controls, and whether OSA was associated with more severe PTSD complaints.

We determined the apnea hypopnea indices (AHI) with polysomnographic registrations in 20 veterans with PTSD, 24 veterans without PTSD, and 17 healthy controls. PTSD severity and nightmare complaints were assessed with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS).

The prevalence of an AHI>10 was 29% in PTSD, 21% in trauma controls, and 29% in healthy controls (χ(2)= 0.60, df=2, p=n.s.). The mean CAPS score in patients with OSA (n=6) was significantly higher than in patients without OSA (p<0.05), while nightmare severity was similar in PTSD patients with OSA as compared to PTSD patients without OSA (p=n.s.). Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between AHI and CAPS score in PTSD patients (r=0.46, p<0.05, df=14).

Our results indicate that PTSD is not necessarily associated with a higher prevalence of OSA. However, PTSD severity was related to OSA, which may possibly mean that comorbid OSA leads to an increase in PTSD complaints. However, future research should indicate whether OSA exerts a negative influence on PTSD, and treatment of OSA alleviates PTSD symptoms.