Nocturnal Time Monitoring Behavior (“Clock-Watching”) in Patients Presenting to a Sleep Medical Center With Insomnia and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms : The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease

Secondary Logo

Journal Logo

Advanced Search
Brief Report

Nocturnal Time Monitoring Behavior (“Clock-Watching”) in Patients Presenting to a Sleep Medical Center With Insomnia and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

Krakow, Barry MD*†‡; Krakow, Jacoby*§; Ulibarri, Victor A. BA*†; Krakow, Jessica BUS*†

Author Information

*Sleep & Human Health Institute; †Maimonides Sleep Arts & Sciences, Ltd, Albuquerque; ‡Los Alamos Medical Center Sleep Laboratory, Los Alamos; and §Classical Preparatory School, Albuquerque, NM.

Dr Barry Krakow is credited with participating in 100% of the tasks needed to complete this study, which include concept, design, methodology, data collection, data analysis, writing, and editing of this study (and revision process). Both Jacoby Krakow and Victor A. Ulibarri are credited with participating in 80% of the tasks needed to complete this study, which include design, methodology, data collection, data analysis, writing, and editing of this study (and revision process). Jessica Krakow is credited with participating in 30% of the tasks needed to complete this study, which include writing and editing of this study (and revision process).

Send reprint requests to Barry Krakow, MD, Sleep & Human Health Institute, 6739 Academy N.E., Suite 380, Albuquerque, NM 87109. E-mail: [email protected].

The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 200(9):p 821-825, September 2012. | DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e318266bba3

Abstract

Time monitoring behavior (TMB) commonly occurs among insomnia patients, often leads to frustration about sleeplessness, and perpetuates insomnia symptoms. Few studies have explored relationships between time monitoring and insomnia, and none have studied the potential relationships between insomnia, TMB, and posttraumatic stress symptoms (PSSs). In this retrospective chart review of 1078 patients seeking care at a sleep medical center, the patients presented with one of three chief sleep complaints (poor sleep quality, 51%; sleep-disordered breathing, 26%; and insomnia, 24%), and 32% reported moderate to severe PSSs. Both insomnia and time monitoring severity were greater in the 350 patients with PSSs compared with the 728 patients with minimal or no such symptoms. Insomnia and time monitoring severity correlated significantly with total posttraumatic stress scores and most strongly with the arousal subscale. Research on interventions to treat TMB may inform relationships between insomnia and posttraumatic stress.

© 2012 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

Full Text Access for Subscribers:

Not a Subscriber?

Buy
Request Permissions

You can read the full text of this article if you:

Access through Ovid