Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulation: Outcomes in Veterans with Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Common Comorbid Post‐traumatic Stress Disorder

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reena Dhanda Patil ◽  
Kathleen M. Sarber ◽  
Madison V. Epperson ◽  
Meredith Tabangin ◽  
Mekibib Altaye ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Nerve Stimulation ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Hypoglossal Nerve ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Post Traumatic

scholarly journals A Narrative Review of the Association between Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea

2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 415
Author(s):  
Catherine A. McCall ◽  
Nathaniel F. Watson
Keyword(s):  
Obstructive Sleep Apnea ◽  
Sleep Apnea ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Traumatic Stress ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Post Traumatic Stress ◽  
Disturbed Sleep ◽  
Obstructive Sleep ◽  
Dose Dependent Fashion ◽  
Post Traumatic

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are often co-morbid with implications for disease severity and treatment outcomes. OSA prevalence is higher in PTSD sufferers than in the general population, with a likely bidirectional effect of the two illnesses. There is substantial evidence to support the role that disturbed sleep may play in the pathophysiology of PTSD. Sleep disturbance associated with OSA may interfere with normal rapid eye movement (REM) functioning and thus worsen nightmares and sleep-related movements. Conversely, hyperarousal and hypervigilance symptoms of PTSD may lower the arousal threshold and thus increase the frequency of sleep fragmentation related to obstructive events. Treating OSA not only improves OSA symptoms, but also nightmares and daytime symptoms of PTSD. Evidence suggests that positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy reduces PTSD symptoms in a dose-dependent fashion, but also presents challenges to tolerance in the PTSD population. Alternative OSA treatments may be better tolerated and effective for improving both OSA and PTSD. Further research avenues will be introduced as we seek a better understanding of this complex relationship.

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