Research has shown that there is a relationship between sleep issues and PTSD symptoms. These studies used self-reported data from questionnaires and found that on nights when sleep was worse, people’s PTSD symptoms were more severe the next day. Some studies have found this relationship works the other way as well, where more severe PTSD symptoms during the day led to more sleep disturbances that night. We are proposing a study which aims to further understand this relationship by using multiple measures of sleep.
Like the previous studies, we will use PTSD-related questionnaires to gain an understanding of participants’ PTSD symptoms each day, sleep-related questionnaires and a sleep diary to understand what participants’ sleep is like. We will also use several other measures of sleep, including a movement monitoring watch and a Home Sleep Test – a device which measures brain activity during sleep.
From this study, we aim to gain a greater understanding of how sleep is affected in people experiencing PTSD, and how this may change as PTSD symptoms ease and worsen over time. As such, we will ask participants to be involved in the study for a week. They will use the Home Sleep Tests for 5 nights, and all other devices and questionnaires will be used for 7 days and nights.
Our collaborator group will help us to shape the equipment used, the design and the delivery of this research. They will not take part in the research but will shape it as part of the project advisory team.
Who are we looking for?
We are seeking individuals who have a diagnosis of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) or suspect they may be experiencing PTSD. To be considered, you must be aged 18 years or older, and be willing to meet online for the advisory group meetings.
Time commitment
Initially, there will be four online meetings each lasting 1–2 hours. Contributors will be asked to review documents in between meetings, which should take around 2 hours. After this, meetings will be infrequent and on an ad-hoc basis.
If you are interested, please email Poppy Green: poppy.green@ndcn.ox.ac.uk
Reimbursement
Participants will be compensated at the national rate of £27.50 per hour.
Date required
Ongoing
Organisation
University of Oxford - Department of Clinical Neurosciences - Better Sleep BRC
Contact
Poppy Green – poppy.green@ndcn.ox.ac.uk