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Identifying sleep-related risk factors for PTSD and their underlying mechanisms

Award Number: K23MH134032
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/15/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2028

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Identifying sleep-related risk factors for PTSD and their underlying mechanisms - Project Summary Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that develops after exposure to a traumatic event. Despite the availability of evidence-based treatments for PTSD, over half of patients dropout of these treatments prematurely, and up to 72% still meet criteria for PTSD at posttreatment. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify the factors that increase risk of PTSD to guide prevention and early intervention strategies. Sleep disturbances (i.e., difficulties falling or staying asleep) are a significant risk factor that contribute to PTSD. Sleep disturbances are common within the acute aftermath of trauma and thus represent a treatment target for early intervention to prevent PTSD. However, the ability to leverage this information for preventive efforts is thwarted because individuals vary in their susceptibility to stress-related sleep disturbances, yet no research has identified who is at greatest risk of sleep disturbances within the acute aftermath of trauma. This precludes the ability to triage high-risk trauma patients most in need of early intervention. Further, despite understanding sleep disturbances increase PTSD risk, we do not know the mechanisms that explain this relationship and hence cannot yet develop early interventions focused on specific mechanisms that modify risk for the disorder. Therefore, this study aims to: 1) identify individuals with a trait susceptibility to acute sleep disturbances after trauma, and 2) determine the mechanisms by which these sleep disturbances predict PTSD. This study will leverage data from the AURORA study (NIMH U01MH110925), a large emergency department-based network that longitudinally followed trauma survivors from the acute aftermath of trauma (e.g., motor vehicle collision) to one year later. The AURORA dataset includes multiple assessments of patient- reported outcomes and psychophysiological functioning, including objective sleep using actigraphy and fear extinction using fear-potentiated startle. The applicant will learn to use these psychophysiological methods to accomplish the study aims, as well as skin conductance response and heart rate, and advanced statistical techniques for longitudinal analyses. To support the applicant’s long-term career goals of investigating the sleep physiology underlying mechanisms of PTSD risk, the applicant will also receive advanced training in sleep physiology and polysomnographic (PSG) assessment, such as quantitative measures of PSG using spectral analysis, with a special focus on Rapid Eye Movement sleep. This study is expected to be significant because it will enable the early identification of potentially vulnerable individuals who might develop PTSD, toward whom sleep-focused preventive efforts can be targeted. This is a vital step in reducing the significant burden that PTSD imposes on both the individual and society because efforts to prevent PTSD require the ability to accurately screen for risk to target those most in need of early interventions. This is a major priority of the NIMH and is directly in line with Objective 2.2 of its Strategic Plan of identifying and understanding risk factors, biomarkers, and behavioral indicators of mental illness.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $145,142 )
2026	2026	MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY	426 AUDITORIUM RD	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	5/20/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$145,142
														Subtotal = $145,142

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $145,142 )
2025	2025	HENRY FORD HEALTH + MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES	426 AUDITORIUM RD	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	3/21/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$145,142
														Subtotal = $145,142

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $145,142 )
2024	2024	HENRY FORD HEALTH + MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES	426 AUDITORIUM RD	EAST LANSING	MI	48824	INGHAM	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	5/15/2024	NEW	$145,142
														Subtotal = $145,142

Grand Total All Awards = $435,426

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Identifying sleep-related risk factors for PTSD and their underlying mechanisms

Award Number: K23MH134032

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/15/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2028

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