Gender Differences in Sleep and War Zone-Related Post-traumatic Stress Disorder

As women’s role in combat operations continue to expand, a larger number of female military personnel will be exposed to traumatic events in the war zone. Exposure to combat and other deployment stressors place both men and women at higher rates for developing PTSD and other mental health problems. Findings among male and female service members suggest minimal differences in overall rates of PTSD; however, results are mixed. Evidence suggests that men are more likely than women to endorse substance abuse following deployment whereas women are more likely than men to endorse depressive symptoms. To date, no studies examine gender differences in symptoms profiles of PTSD among combat veterans. However, studies among civilian samples (e.g., motor vehicle accidents, natural disasters, terrorist attacks) suggest that women report higher levels of overall post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and a higher level of peritraumatic dissociation immediately following trauma events. While both men and women with PTSD experience significant problems with sleep quality, it appears there are some initial gender differences in types of problems experienced. Differences between reexperiencing, avoidant, and arousal symptoms are mixed, and it is unclear whether studies of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms following civilian trauma can generalize to a military population. Cognitive, biological, and affective factors that influence the development and maintenance of PTSD are discussed in order to explore potential explanations for the observed gender differences in the symptomatology of PTSD. Implications for PTSD treatment are discussed.