Abstract
Sleep disturbances are among the most commonly endorsed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Treatment modalities that are effective for the waking symptoms of PTSD may have limited efficacy for post-traumatic sleep problems. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence for empirically supported and/or utilized psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatments for post-traumatic nightmares and insomnia. While there are few controlled studies of the applicability of general sleep-focused interventions to the management of the sleep disturbances in PTSD, evidence is growing to support several psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatments. Future investigations should include trials that combine treatments focused on sleep with treatments effective in managing the waking symptoms of PTSD.
Publication types
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Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
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Review
MeSH terms
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Antipsychotic Agents / therapeutic use
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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy*
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Dreams
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Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing*
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Fluvoxamine / therapeutic use
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Humans
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Piperazines
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Prazosin / therapeutic use
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REM Sleep Behavior Disorder / therapy
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Restless Legs Syndrome / therapy
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Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors / therapeutic use
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Sleep
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Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / therapy
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Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / therapy
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Sleep Wake Disorders / psychology
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Sleep Wake Disorders / therapy*
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Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / psychology*
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Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / therapy
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Trazodone / therapeutic use
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Triazoles / therapeutic use
Substances
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Antipsychotic Agents
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Piperazines
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Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors
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Triazoles
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nefazodone
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Fluvoxamine
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Prazosin
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Trazodone