Abstract Introduction Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), with violent nightmares affecting 50–90% of patients. Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD), affecting 0.5–4.8% of the general population, may reach 15% prevalence in veterans with PTSD mostly related to repeated or prolonged exposure to traumatic event (type 2 trauma). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of probable RBD (pRBD) and its relationship with PTSD symptom severity in patients with PTSD following a sudden and single traumatic event (type 1 trauma). Methods In this single-center, cross-sectional study, French-speaking adults aged 18–50 years with DSM-5 PTSD after type 1 trauma were recruited from the Emergency Medical and Psychological Unit (CUMP) at Clermont-Ferrand University Hospital. Participants completed the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), the REM Sleep Behavior Disorder Screening Questionnaire (RBDSQ), the International RBD Symptom Severity Scale (IRBD-SSS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results Forty-one patients (17 men; mean age 36.27±10.39) were included. The prevalence of pRBD (RBDSQ ≥ 5) was 73.17%. PTSD severity correlated with RBD symptom severity (r = 0.529, p=0.003), especially nightmares (r=0.605, p 0.0001). In the pRBD+ group, RBD severity correlated with unwanted upsetting memories (r=0.507), traumatic dreams (r=0.465), anhedonia (r=0.499), social withdrawal (r=0.453), irritability (r=0.404), concentration difficulties (r=0.587), and sleep disturbances (r=0.587). Conclusion Probable RBD is highly prevalent in PTSD related to a single traumatic event. Its association with PTSD symptom severity supports shared neurobiological pathways and underlines the need for systematic sleep assessment in PTSD management. Support (if any)
Céline et al. (Fri,) studied this question.