Association between pre-trauma sleep disturbance and post-trauma intrusions: An analogue study

Abstract

Objective: Disturbed sleep following trauma exposure is associated with increased intrusive memory frequency and intrusion-related distress–possible precursors to Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). However, the relationship between sleep disturbance prior to trauma and subsequent PTSD symptoms has received less attention. We examined whether disturbed sleep prior to an analogue trauma predicted post-trauma intrusive memory frequency and characteristics. Method: Undergraduate university students (N = 76) recorded their sleep quantity and quality over four days before viewing a Trauma Film designed to elicit intrusive memories. Results: There were no significant associations between pre-film sleep quantity and intrusion frequency, vividness, intensity or self-reported estimates of physiological arousal associated with intrusions across the three days following the film. Higher self-rated difficulty getting to sleep predicted higher self-reported estimates of physiological arousal associated with post-film intrusions. Conclusions: The findings of this study emphasise the importance of nuanced and multivariate assessment of pre-trauma risk factors for post-trauma intrusive memories. Show more