Effect of cognitive behavioral therapy on heart rate variability during REM sleep in female rape victims with PTSD

Six female rape victims with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed for sleep disturbances. Five responded to cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) and one did not complete treatment. Sympatho‐vagal balance was measured using heart rate variability (HRV) during rapid eye movement (REM) slee...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of traumatic stress 2003-06, Vol.16 (3), p.247-250
Main Authors: Nishith, Pallavi, Duntley, Stephen P., Domitrovich, Peter P., Uhles, Matthew L., Cook, Brenda J., Stein, Phyllis K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Behavior therapy. Cognitive therapy
Biological and medical sciences
CBT
Cognitive Therapy
Female
Heart Rate
HRV
Humans
Medical sciences
nightmares
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
PTSD
rape
Rape - psychology
sleep
Sleep, REM - physiology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology
Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy
Treatments
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Summary:Six female rape victims with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were assessed for sleep disturbances. Five responded to cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) and one did not complete treatment. Sympatho‐vagal balance was measured using heart rate variability (HRV) during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. The treatment responders significantly decreased on HRV while the noncompleter increased. The responders also significantly decreased on sleep disturbances. The noncompleter remained unchanged. Thus a remission in PTSD symptoms following CBT accompanied a reduction in the HRV indicator of sympathetic predominance in REM sleep.
ISSN:0894-9867
1573-6598
DOI:10.1023/A:1023791906879