Abstract |
Women with posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD) have poor sleep quality and increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Non-dipping of nocturnal blood pressure may be an explanatory factor for the relationship between sleep and CVD found in previous research. The current study was designed to determine if non-dipping nocturnal blood pressure was associated with trauma exposure, PTSD diagnosis, PTSD symptoms, and sleep quality in a sample of women. Participants completed 24 hours of ABPM and self-report questionnaires. Non-dipping was defined as less than 10% reduction in blood pressure during sleep. The frequency of non-dippers did not differ by diagnostic status (d = .15). However, non-dippers endorsed more traumatic event categories ( d = .53), more PTSD hyperarousal symptoms ( d = .53), poorer overall sleep quality (d = .59), more frequent use of sleep medication (d = .62), greater sleep-related daytime dysfunction (d = .58), and longer sleep onset latencies (d = .55) than dippers. Increased attention to nocturnal blood pressure variation may be needed to improve blood pressure control in trauma-exposed women.
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Authors | Christi S Ulmer, Patrick S Calhoun, Hayden B Bosworth, Michelle F Dennis, Jean C Beckham |
Journal | Behavioral medicine (Washington, D.C.)
(Behav Med)
Vol. 39
Issue 4
Pg. 111-21
( 2013)
ISSN: 0896-4289 [Print] United States |
PMID | 24236808
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.)
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Topics |
- Adult
- Blood Pressure
(physiology)
- Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory
- Circadian Rhythm
(physiology)
- Darkness
- Female
- Humans
- Sleep
(physiology)
- Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders
(complications, physiopathology, psychology)
- Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
(complications, physiopathology, psychology)
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