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Sleep Disturbances in PTSD: Insight from Clinical Studies
Meet S Parikh1, Rishi Sharma2, Mahesh M Thakkar2
1Department of Neurology, University of Missouri - Columbia School of Medicine, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
Missouri Medicine
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly disrupts sleep, affecting circadian genes and REM sleep. Further research is needed to understand PTSD
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Medicine
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is frequently associated with sleep disturbances.
- Symptoms include nightmares, fragmented sleep, and altered sleep architecture, especially concerning Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep.
- The precise mechanisms linking PTSD to these sleep issues are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review the role of circadian genes in sleep disturbances related to PTSD.
- To synthesize findings from patient studies to elucidate the relationship between PTSD and sleep patterns.
- To explore potential mechanisms underlying PTSD-related sleep problems, including REM sleep alterations.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of existing literature on PTSD, sleep disturbances, and circadian genes.
- Analysis of patient studies investigating sleep patterns in individuals with PTSD.
- Synthesis of findings to identify correlations and potential causal pathways.
Main Results:
- PTSD is linked to significant alterations in sleep, including disrupted continuity and architecture.
- Circadian gene dysregulation may play a role in PTSD-related sleep disturbances.
- REM sleep regulation appears particularly affected in PTSD patients.
Conclusions:
- A deeper understanding of PTSD's impact on sleep, particularly REM sleep and circadian genes, is crucial.
- Elucidating these mechanisms can lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for sleep disturbances in PTSD.
- Further research is warranted to fully understand the complex interplay between PTSD, sleep, and genetic factors.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
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01:18Nightmares and Night Terrors
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Nightmares often...
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01:27Insomnia
Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and waking up too early without being able to return to sleep. People with insomnia often experience these disruptions at least three nights a week for at least one month. Chronic insomnia, which lasts for at least three months, can lead to increased anxiety, which in turn can worsen sleep difficulties, creating a cycle of sleeplessness and stress.
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01:11Understanding Sleep
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01:19Management of Insomnia
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01:27Dissociative Disorders
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