TY - JOUR

T1 - Social zeitgebers and circadian dysrhythmia are associated with severity of symptoms of PTSD and depression in trauma-affected refugees

AU - Sandahl, Hinuga

AU - Baandrup, Lone

AU - Vindbjerg, Erik

AU - Jennum, Poul

AU - Carlsson, Jessica

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2021, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - The relation of aspects of rest–activity patterns, i.e., social zeitgebers, physical activity and circadian rhythm, to the severity of PTSD and depressive symptoms has not previously been studied. Doing so could provide valuable insight into possible targets for treatment. Our study explored these links in a population of 219 trauma-affected refugees diagnosed with PTSD who were seeking treatment. Data regarding social zeitgebers, such as affiliation with the labor market and contact with social network, and symptoms of PTSD and depression were collected from them. Furthermore, their levels of physical activity and circadian rest–activity parameters were calculated from actigraphy data. Bivariate correlation analyses and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine various aspects of rest–activity regarding relation to severity of PTSD and depressive symptoms. Several social zeitgebers were associated with severity of PTSD and depressive symptoms. The level of physical activity was unrelated to symptom severity, whereas a rest–activity pattern, with early onset of the most active 10 h, was associated with severity of PTSD, and a circadian rhythm with a large difference between periods of rest and activity was associated with severity of depression. Social zeitgebers, levels of physical activity and circadian rhythm parameters were all associated with each other. Social zeitgebers and circadian rhythm parameters were significantly related to the severity of PTSD and depressive symptoms—a relationship indicating that interventions targeting regularity of daily routines have a potential role in treating PTSD and depression in trauma-affected refugees. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT02761161, April 27, 2016.

AB - The relation of aspects of rest–activity patterns, i.e., social zeitgebers, physical activity and circadian rhythm, to the severity of PTSD and depressive symptoms has not previously been studied. Doing so could provide valuable insight into possible targets for treatment. Our study explored these links in a population of 219 trauma-affected refugees diagnosed with PTSD who were seeking treatment. Data regarding social zeitgebers, such as affiliation with the labor market and contact with social network, and symptoms of PTSD and depression were collected from them. Furthermore, their levels of physical activity and circadian rest–activity parameters were calculated from actigraphy data. Bivariate correlation analyses and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine various aspects of rest–activity regarding relation to severity of PTSD and depressive symptoms. Several social zeitgebers were associated with severity of PTSD and depressive symptoms. The level of physical activity was unrelated to symptom severity, whereas a rest–activity pattern, with early onset of the most active 10 h, was associated with severity of PTSD, and a circadian rhythm with a large difference between periods of rest and activity was associated with severity of depression. Social zeitgebers, levels of physical activity and circadian rhythm parameters were all associated with each other. Social zeitgebers and circadian rhythm parameters were significantly related to the severity of PTSD and depressive symptoms—a relationship indicating that interventions targeting regularity of daily routines have a potential role in treating PTSD and depression in trauma-affected refugees. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT02761161, April 27, 2016.

KW - Circadian rhythm

KW - Employment

KW - Physical activity

KW - Sleep

KW - Social relationships

KW - Social zeitgebers

U2 - 10.1007/s00406-021-01266-8

DO - 10.1007/s00406-021-01266-8

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33956223

AN - SCOPUS:85105537457

VL - 271

SP - 1319

EP - 1329

JO - European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

JF - European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

SN - 0940-1334

IS - 7

ER -