0236 Changes in State Anxiety over 62 hours of Sleep Deprivation and Subsequent Recovery

Abstract Introduction Previous work has indicated increases in self-reported anxiety following one night of total sleep deprivation (TSD). This study extends previous work by assessing the effects of two nights of sleep deprivation on state anxiety as well as the effect of a single night of recovery sleep. Methods Seventeen healthy adults (7 females) ranging from 18–33 years of age participated. Self-reported state anxiety was assessed using the Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S). The STAI-S was administered at 10am, 1pm, and 4pm under four sleep conditions 1) Baseline: day following one night of 8 hours time-in-bed (TIB), 2) TSD1: day following one night of TSD, 3) TSD2: day following two nights of TSD 4) Recovery: day following 12 hours TIB after 62 hours of TSD. The data were analyzed with a 4 (Sleep Condition) x 3 (Time of Day) mixed linear model. Results here was a significant main effect of Sleep Condition, F(3,192) = 15.94, p = 2.70 x 10–9. Post-hoc tests revealed that anxiety was significantly increased after one night of TSD compared to baseline (p=0.009). Additionally, anxiety reported following two nights of TSD was further increased compared to one night of TSD (p=0.0008). This increase in self-reported anxiety was reversed after one night of recovery sleep (decreased compared to TSD2, p = 2.50 x 10–9; no difference compared to baseline, p=0.37). There was no main effect of Time of Day nor was there a significant interaction between Sleep Condition x Time of Day. Conclusion The present findings suggest that state anxiety levels, as measured by the STAI-S, increase across two nights of TSD and return to baseline following a single night of recovery sleep. These preliminary findings suggest that a single 12-hour period of sleep is sufficient for restoring baseline levels of state anxiety - a finding that has implications for determining appropriate ‘recycle rates’ (duration between mission) for Soldiers and others involved in continuous operations. Support (If Any) Department of Defense Military Operational Medicine Research Program (MOMRP)