The DOI matches its Crossref record; 140 of the 142 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Sleep and posttraumatic stress disorder: a review
Abstract
Research seeking to establish the relationship between sleep and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is in its infancy. An empirically supported theory of the relationship is yet to emerge. The aims of the present paper are threefold: to summarise the literature on the prevalence and treatment of sleep disturbance characteristic of acute stress disorder (ASD) and PTSD, to critically review this literature, and to draw together the disparate theoretical perspectives that have been proposed to account for the empirical findings. After a brief overview of normal human sleep, the literature specifying the relation between sleep disturbance and PTSD is summarized. This includes studies of the prevalence of sleep disturbance and nightmares, content of nightmares, abnormalities in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, arousal threshold during sleep, body movement during sleep, and breathing-related sleep disorders. In addition, studies of the treatment of sleep disturbance in individuals with PTSD are reviewed. We conclude that the role of sleep in PTSD is complex, but that it is an important area for further elucidating the nature and treatment of PTSD. Areas for future research are specified. In particular, a priority is to improve the methodology of the research conducted.
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“For example, poor sleep has also been associated with post-traumatic stress [25], eating disorders [26], and psychosis spectrum experiences such as delusions and hallucinations [23,27].”
From Improving sleep quality leads to better mental health: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (2021) · cites this paper as [25]
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van Wyk, M. (2013) · Open University of Cape Town (University of Cape Town)
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Werner, K. B. (2013) · IRL - University of Missouri, St. Louis (University of Missouri–St. Louis)
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Assessing A Cognitive Model of Trauma-related Sleep Disturbance
Chesher, R. E. (2020) · IRL - University of Missouri, St. Louis (University of Missouri–St. Louis)
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ПОШИРЕНІСТЬ ІНТЕРНЕТ-ЗАЛЕЖНОСТІ СЕРЕД СТУДЕНТІВ ФАХОВОГО МЕДИЧНОГО КОЛЕДЖУ
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Messman, B. (2024) · University of North Texas Digital Library (University of North Texas) · doi:10.12794/metadc2332601
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Doenyas‐Barak, K., Elman-Shina, K., Lang, E., Finci, S., Elkarif, V., Shorer, R., & Efrati, S. (2026) · Frontiers in Neurology · doi:10.3389/fneur.2026.1690633
“Sleep disturbances are also prevalent in conditions like PTSD (6) and Long COVID (7), where they are associated with underlying neuroinflammation (8) and dysregulated autonomic function.”
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“There is an association between sleep disturbances and PTSD (Harvey et al., 2003; Schoenfeld et al., 2012); both sleep quality and quantity are affected by PTSD (Stout et al., 2017).”
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“Some studies report increased sleep fragmentation (Koffel et al., 2016; Harvey et al., 2003), while meta-analytic findings have described greater light sleep, reduced slow-wave sleep, and increased REM density in PTSD (Koffel et al., 2016; Kobayashi et al., 2007).”
Associations between PTSD symptom clusters and multi-region pain in young adults with chronic pain
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“Insomnia symptoms, fragmented sleep, and nightmares are common after trauma exposure (Harvey et al., 2003), and sleep problems are especially frequent among forcibly displaced populations (Baskaran et al., 2023; Richter et al., 2020).”
Metadata
- Authors
- Harvey, A. G., Jones, C., & Schmidt, D. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Oxford (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Harvey, Allison G
- ORCID
- Harvey, Allison G
- Venue
- Clinical Psychology Review
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2003-05
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 377-407
- ISSN
- 0272-7358 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2163325497
- Cited by
- 337
- References
- 142
- Citations by year
- 2026: 13 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 29 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 15
- FWCI
- 12.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Psychology Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Sleep and Wakefulness Research
- Keywords
- post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep disorders, acute stress disorder, nightmares, REM sleep abnormalities, sleep-related movement disorders
- MeSH terms
- Humans, Middle Aged, Sleep Wake Disorders, Sleep, REM, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Veterans, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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