Simon A. Rego

Sleep disturbances in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder: epidemiology, impact and approaches to management

Subjective reports of sleep disturbance indicate that 70–91% of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have difficulty falling or staying asleep. Nightmares are reported by 19–71% of patients, depending on the severity of their PTSD and their exposure to physical aggression. Objective measures of sleep disturbance are inconsistent, with some studies that used these measures indicating poor sleep and others finding no differences compared with non-PTSD controls. Future research in this area may benefit from examining measures of instability in the microstructure of sleep. Additionally, recent findings suggest that sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and sleep movement disorders are more common in patients with PTSD than in the general population and that these disorders may contribute to the brief awakenings, insomnia and daytime fatigue in patients with PTSD. Overall, sleep problems have an impact on the development and symptom severity of PTSD and on the quality of life and functioning of patients.In terms of treatments, SSRIs are commonly used to treat PTSD, and evidence suggests that they have a small but significant positive effect on sleep disruption. Studies of serotonin-potentiating non-SSRIs suggest that nefazodone and trazodone lead to significant reductions in insomnia and nightmares, whereas cyproheptadine may exacerbate sleep problems in patients with PTSD. Prazosin, a centrally acting α1-adrenoceptor antagonist, has led to large reductions in nightmares and insomnia in small studies of patients with PTSD. Augmentation of SSRIs with olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic, may be effective for treatment-resistant nightmares and insomnia, although adverse effects can be significant. Additional medications, including zolpidem, buspirone, gabapentin and mirtazapine, have been found to improve sleep in patients with PTSD. Large randomised, placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm the above findings. In contrast, evidence suggests that benzodiazepines, TCAs and MAOIs are not useful for the treatment of PTSD-related sleep disorders, and their adverse effect profiles make further studies unlikely.Cognitive behavioural interventions for sleep disruption in patients with PTSD include strategies targeting insomnia and imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) for nightmares. One large randomised controlled trial of group IRT demonstrated significant reductions in nightmares and insomnia. Similarly, uncontrolled studies combining IRT and insomnia strategies have demonstrated good outcomes.Uncontrolled studies of continuous positive airway pressure for SDB in patients with PTSD show that this treatment led to significant decreases in nightmares, insomnia and PTSD symptoms. Controlled studies are needed to confirm these promising findings.

Empirically supported treatment for panic disorder: Research, theory, and application of cognitive behavioral therapy

In this article we review the DSM-IV criteria for Panic Disorder (PD), provide a brief overview of the cognitive model of PD, discuss empirically supported treatment components, and review pivotal experiments examining cognitive behavioral therapy for PD. A case example is also included to illustrate the application of treatment components.

Science at the Heart of Psychotherapy: A Review of Three Evidence-Based Treatments

Changes in the U.S. healthcare system over the past few decades have led to a transformation of the mental health field. The demand for accountability and the need for effective, cost-efficient treatments have spurred the movement toward evidence-based practices. Today, a number of empirically based psychotherapies exist that have proven efficacious in the treatment of a wide range of physical and psychological disorders. Despite the strong evidence base for these treatments, their dissemination and implementation have been slow. The intention of the present article is to summarize the major characteristics of three types of psychotherapy (cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy) that have received much empirical support and have demonstrated applicability to a wide range of both mental and medical problems. For each treatment, some background information is provided, along with the theoretical underpinnings of the treatment, a summary of the current state of the evidence, and limitations and criticisms in the literature.