Work

Nonnightmare distressed awakenings in veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder: Response to prazosin

Year: 2008

Type: article

Abstract: Twenty-two veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed for trauma-related nightmares and nonnightmare distressed awakenings (NNDA) before and after treatment with the alpha-1 adrenoreceptor antagonist prazosin at an average bedtime dose of 9.6 mg/day. Ratings combining frequency and intensity dimensions of trauma-related nightmares decreased from 3.6 to 2.2, NNDA from 5.2 to 2.1, and sleep difficulty from 7.2 to 4.1 per week. These results suggest that increased brain adrenergic activity may contribute to the pathophysiology of both trauma-related nightmares and NNDA in PTSD.

Source: Journal of Traumatic Stress

DOI: 10.1002/jts.20351

Authors: Charles E. Thompson, Fletcher B. Taylor, Miles E. McFall, Robert F. Barnes, Murray A. Raskind

Institution: VA Northwest Network

Language: English

Topic: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institute of Mental Health