1081 DIFFERENT RELATIONS WITH SLEEP DISTURBANCE ACROSS PTSD SYMPTOM CLUSTERS IN OEF/OIF VETERANS

Abstract Introduction: Disturbed sleep, in the form of insomnia and nightmares, is a prominent feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Broadly, theories suggest that insomnia may be the result of intrusions of anxious arousal, and that re-experiencing in the form of nightmares relates to an inability to fully integrate and process traumatic event-related stimuli. However, the predictive utility of relations between specific PTSD symptom clusters and objective/subjective sleep has not been established. The present study examined how PTSD symptom clusters are differentially related to objective and subjective sleep in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Veterans. Methods: Thirty subjects (10% female, mean age 38.0, SD=9.4) participated in a study investigating neurobiological factors related to hyperarousal in PTSD. PTSD symptom clusters were assessed using the Clinician-Administered PTSD scale and consisted of re-experiencing, avoidance, and arousal symptoms. Sleep symptomatology was assessed using the Insomnia Severity Index, Nightmare Frequency Questionnaire, and Nightmare Distress Questionnaire. Additionally, polysomnography was conducted to assess for sleep continuity and architecture. To avoid conflation, the PTSD items measuring insomnia and nightmares were excluded from the PTSD re-experiencing and arousal symptom cluster scores as well as the PTSD symptom severity total score. Results: Greater overall PTSD severity and each symptom cluster were positively associated with nightmare frequency, nightmare distress, and insomnia severity (p’s