Aerobic exercise improves sleep in U. S. active duty service members following brief treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms

Frontiers in Psychology

Psychology

Jeffrey S. Yarvis¹  Stacey Young-McCaughan²  Vanessa M. Jacoby²  Kristi E. Pruiksma²  Casey L. Straud³  Alan L. Peterson⁴  Daniel J. Taylor⁵  Susannah Bumstead⁶ 

[1] Department of Behavioral Health, Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center, Fort Hood, Killeen, TX, United States;Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States;Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States;Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States;Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States;Department of Psychology, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States;Research and Development Service, South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX, United States;Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States;Institute for Studies of Religion, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States;Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Baylor University, Waco, TX, United States;

关键词: aerobic exercise;    insomnia;    sleep;    posttraumatic stress disorder;    PTSD;    active duty military personnel;    lifestyle intervention;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1249543

 received in 2023-06-28, accepted in 2023-08-25,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

IntroductionPhysical exercise is a lifestyle intervention that can positively impact aspects of physical and psychological health. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting that physical exercise, sleep, and PTSD are interrelated. This study investigated possible relationships. Three research questions were posed: (1) Did randomization to an aerobic exercise intervention reduce insomnia more than being randomized to an intervention without exercise, (2) Did change in sleep predict change in PTSD symptoms, and (3) Did change in sleep impact the relationship between exercise and PTSD symptom reductions?MethodsData were collected from 69 treatment-seeking active duty service members with PTSD symptoms randomized into one of four conditions; two conditions included aerobic exercise, and two conditions did not include exercise. Participants in the exercise groups exercised five times per week keeping their heart rate > 60% of their heart rate reserve for 20–25 min.ResultsAt baseline, 58% of participants reported moderate or severe insomnia. PTSD symptom severity decreased following treatment for all groups (p < 0.001). Participants randomized to exercise reported greater reductions in insomnia compared to those in the no exercise group (p = 0.47). However, change in insomnia did not predict change in PTSD symptoms nor did it significantly impact the relationship between exercise and PTSD symptom reductions.DiscussionAdding exercise to evidence-based treatments for PTSD could reduce sleep disturbance, a characteristic of PTSD not directly addressed with behavioral therapies. A better understanding of exercise as a lifestyle intervention that can reduce PTSD symptoms and insomnia is warranted.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Young-McCaughan, Straud, Bumstead, Pruiksma, Taylor, Jacoby, Yarvis and Peterson.