Posttraumatic stress disorder and insomnia development in individuals displaced from Shida Kartli, Georgia

Recent evidences suggest that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with sleep disturbances following the traumatic events. However, the exact nature of the relationship between disturbed sleep and PTSD is unclear. The present study examined the development of PTSD and insomnia in the population subjected to force displacement from Shida Kartli, Georgia (Caucasus). Detailed subjective information on sleep-wake habits and demographic parameters were obtained from 45 displaced persons. Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale was administered to all participants. Complete information could only be obtained from 27 individuals categorized into PTSD (19 subjects) and non-PTSD (8 subjects) groups. Sleep complaints were presented among all PTSD individuals, also 50% of non-PTSD subjects were still suffering from insomnia. Most of the subjects were not satisfied with their current sleep. They mostly complained on sleep maintenance difficulties and the appearing of nightmares, as disturbing factors of sleep. The difference between PTSD and non-PTSD groups on nightmare frequency did not reach the significance. Our results support a view that sleep mechanisms may contribute to the pathophysiology of PTSD, but insomnia following trauma exposure may exist even in the absence of full-blown PTSD.