Shared PTSD and Paradox Insomnia Among Wives of Veterans with Chronic War Induced PTSD: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Background: War-induced Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and its complications can be passed on to patients’ family members. Objectives: This study aims to investigate PTSD symptoms and sleep quality among chronic PTSD patients and their wives. Methods: PTSD symptoms were evaluated among 14 veterans with chronic PTSD and their wives by the PTSD checklist - Military version (PCL-M). Objective and subjective sleep data were collected by actigraphy and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. Data was analyzed using t - tests, χ2, and Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient by SPSS software version 16. Results: According to PCL-M, seven wives were diagnosed with PTSD while others reported high PCL scores. Total PCL-M scores did not differ significantly between veterans and wives: there was, instead, a significantly positive correlation between these two groups (r = 0.563; P = 0.036). Veterans with PTSD reported significantly poorer sleep quality compared to their wives on the PSQI (P < 0.05), however, not in the actigraphy. Veterans’ PSQI and actigraphy sleep indices differed significantly (P < 0.01). Subjective sleep latency (41.79 ± 29.65) was significantly higher than objective (11.38 ± 28.64) among wives (P < 0.01). A significant positive correlation was observed between the two groups’ subjective sleep efficiency (r = 0.569; P = 0.03) and between PTSD severity and PSQI total scores (r = 0.53; P < 0.01). Conclusions: The wives of persons with PTSD indicated some degree of PTSD. Veterans with PTSD reported poorer sleep quality than their wives. PTSD can negatively influence sleep quality.