Sleep Disturbances in Panic Disorder with Comorbid Complex PTSD: A Possible Relationship and Different Psychopathology?
Background: Several studies have shown the possible link between trauma and sleep disturbances, particularly in anxiety disorders. This issue could be because sympathetic hyperarousal is central to both disorders, probably caused by a dysregulation of the noradrenergic system. This study aimed to es...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Life |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/8/1636 |
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| author | Elvira Anna Carbone Giulia Menculini Renato de Filippis Martina D’Angelo Leonardo Zebi Luca Steardo |
| author_facet | Elvira Anna Carbone Giulia Menculini Renato de Filippis Martina D’Angelo Leonardo Zebi Luca Steardo |
| author_sort | Elvira Anna Carbone |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Several studies have shown the possible link between trauma and sleep disturbances, particularly in anxiety disorders. This issue could be because sympathetic hyperarousal is central to both disorders, probably caused by a dysregulation of the noradrenergic system. This study aimed to establish if the comorbidity with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) is associated with sleep disturbances in panic disorder (PD) and if the presence of poor sleep quality is associated with a higher psychopathological burden. Methods: Participants (N = 211) with PD completed the International Trauma Questionnaire concerning their most troubling experience, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbances, respectively. Results: The sample was divided into two subgroups based on the presence of cPTSD. No significant differences emerged in the bivariate analyses for what concerns sociodemographic features. As for the scores of the psychopathological scales, the analysis highlighted statistically significant differences between the subgroups. Subjects with cPTSD reported significantly higher HAM-A total scores. As for the disturbances in self-organization (DSO) and PSQI scores, these were all significantly higher in the cPTSD subsample. At the logistic regression, the presence of cPTSD was inserted as the dependent variable, while the PSQI scores of the subscales evaluating subjective sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep efficacy, and the use of hypnotics were used as independent variables. The presence of cPTSD was significantly associated with the PSQI subscores for subjective sleep quality and use of hypnotics. Conclusions: Patients with PD exhibit more severe sleep disturbances and a higher anxiety burden when experiencing prolonged trauma. Therapeutic advances are needed in this field to target these symptomatologic domains. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:47:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5aab08b807c4d7fa7c58a1b5b70a966 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-1729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:47:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Life |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5aab08b807c4d7fa7c58a1b5b70a9662023-11-19T01:53:22ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292023-07-01138163610.3390/life13081636Sleep Disturbances in Panic Disorder with Comorbid Complex PTSD: A Possible Relationship and Different Psychopathology?Elvira Anna Carbone0Giulia Menculini1Renato de Filippis2Martina D’Angelo3Leonardo Zebi4Luca Steardo5Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Græcia”, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Perugia, Piazzale Lucio Severi, 1, 06132 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia”, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia”, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Perugia, Piazzale Lucio Severi, 1, 06132 Perugia, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia”, 88100 Catanzaro, ItalyBackground: Several studies have shown the possible link between trauma and sleep disturbances, particularly in anxiety disorders. This issue could be because sympathetic hyperarousal is central to both disorders, probably caused by a dysregulation of the noradrenergic system. This study aimed to establish if the comorbidity with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (cPTSD) is associated with sleep disturbances in panic disorder (PD) and if the presence of poor sleep quality is associated with a higher psychopathological burden. Methods: Participants (N = 211) with PD completed the International Trauma Questionnaire concerning their most troubling experience, the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess anxiety symptoms and sleep disturbances, respectively. Results: The sample was divided into two subgroups based on the presence of cPTSD. No significant differences emerged in the bivariate analyses for what concerns sociodemographic features. As for the scores of the psychopathological scales, the analysis highlighted statistically significant differences between the subgroups. Subjects with cPTSD reported significantly higher HAM-A total scores. As for the disturbances in self-organization (DSO) and PSQI scores, these were all significantly higher in the cPTSD subsample. At the logistic regression, the presence of cPTSD was inserted as the dependent variable, while the PSQI scores of the subscales evaluating subjective sleep quality, sleep duration, sleep efficacy, and the use of hypnotics were used as independent variables. The presence of cPTSD was significantly associated with the PSQI subscores for subjective sleep quality and use of hypnotics. Conclusions: Patients with PD exhibit more severe sleep disturbances and a higher anxiety burden when experiencing prolonged trauma. Therapeutic advances are needed in this field to target these symptomatologic domains.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/8/1636complex post-traumatic stress disorderpanic disordersleep disturbancesanxietyhypnotic drug use |
| spellingShingle | Elvira Anna Carbone Giulia Menculini Renato de Filippis Martina D’Angelo Leonardo Zebi Luca Steardo Sleep Disturbances in Panic Disorder with Comorbid Complex PTSD: A Possible Relationship and Different Psychopathology? Life complex post-traumatic stress disorder panic disorder sleep disturbances anxiety hypnotic drug use |
| title | Sleep Disturbances in Panic Disorder with Comorbid Complex PTSD: A Possible Relationship and Different Psychopathology? |
| title_full | Sleep Disturbances in Panic Disorder with Comorbid Complex PTSD: A Possible Relationship and Different Psychopathology? |
| title_fullStr | Sleep Disturbances in Panic Disorder with Comorbid Complex PTSD: A Possible Relationship and Different Psychopathology? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sleep Disturbances in Panic Disorder with Comorbid Complex PTSD: A Possible Relationship and Different Psychopathology? |
| title_short | Sleep Disturbances in Panic Disorder with Comorbid Complex PTSD: A Possible Relationship and Different Psychopathology? |
| title_sort | sleep disturbances in panic disorder with comorbid complex ptsd a possible relationship and different psychopathology |
| topic | complex post-traumatic stress disorder panic disorder sleep disturbances anxiety hypnotic drug use |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/13/8/1636 |
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