The current study assesses activation of hippocampus and prefrontal cortex during sleep spindles in veterans with and without PTSD. Furthermore, the correlation between sleep spindles and memory consolidation will be examined.
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Sleep disturbances (incl subtypes)
- Anxiety disorders and symptoms
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
Activation of hippocampus and prefrontal cortex during sleep spindles in PTSD
subjects as compared with healthy veterans.
Secondary outcome
The correlation between delayed recall of the 15 word test and activation of
hippocampus and prefrontal cortex during sleep spindles.
Background summary
Approximately 5 - 15 per cent of veterans returning from deployment develop
PTSD. PTSD complaints consist of intruding memories, nightmares, irritability,
insomnia and memory deficits.
PTSD patients exhibit altered activity in brain areas that are involved in
anxiety and memory (hippocampus and prefrontal cortex). These brain areas are
active during sleep spindles, which are associated with memory consolidation
during sleep. Possibly, these brain areas show altered activity during sleep
spindles in PTSD subjects. This may influence memory functions in PTSD
patients.
Study objective
The current study assesses activation of hippocampus and prefrontal cortex
during sleep spindles in veterans with and without PTSD. Furthermore, the
correlation between sleep spindles and memory consolidation will be examined.
Study design
All subjects will undergo clinical interviews and fill out questionnaires
assessing sleep quality. When eligible for the study, they will sleep for 45
minutes in a MRI scanner during early night hours. EEG registrations will be
obtained during scanning. Sleep spindles will be identified on the EEG and
coupled with fMRI scans. fMRI BOLD signal during spindles will be compared with
BOLD signal during non REM sleep (without spindles).
Before scanning, the 15 word task, Bourdon Wiesrma Task, and 3 subtests from
the WAIS III will be administered. The delayed recall of the 15 words will be
assessed on the morning after scanning.
Study burden and risks
This study will provide unique information on PTSD, sleep and memory. The risks
involved with this study are small. With the methodology of simultaneous EEG
and fMRI, brain activity will be examined in brains structures relevant for
PTSD and for sleep. This may provide evidence for what mechanisms are involved
in sleep disturbances in PTSD. This is relevant because no clear objective
markers of disturbed sleep in PTSD have yet been identified.
Furthermore, this study may contribute to a body of knowledge on memory
processing during sleep, which may be disturbed in PTSD. Memory deficits are
often reported by PTSD patients.
Risks involved with this study are minimal. Subjects will be removed from the
scanner when they feel anxious or want to stop for any other reason. The
current EEG material is compatible with the 3 tesla MRI and has been tested for
this purpose (see attachment *methode en veiligheid EEG-fMRI").
heidelberglaan 100
3584 CX Utrecht
Nederland
heidelberglaan 100
3584 CX Utrecht
Nederland
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
- PTSD diagnosed by DSM-IV criteria, and confirmed by a diagnostic interview (SCID) (only for patients)
- CAPS score > 50 (only for patients)
- Male
- Age between 18 and 60 years
- Exposure to deployment based traumatic stress
Exclusion criteria
- Antidepressant usage within 2 months prior to the start of the study
- Usage of any other psychotropic medication within 4 weeks prior to the start of the study
- History of psychiatric disease (controls), neurological illness (all subjects), of systemic disease (all subjects)
- Sleep disturbed breathing or periodic limb movement disorder
- History of alcohol and/or drug abuse (DSM-IV criteria) within 6 months prior to the study
- Metal objects in or around the body (braces, pacemaker, etc)
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL21701.041.08 |