Independently, poor sleep and high levels of stress have been associated with cardiovascular, metabolic, and affective disorders. Emerging evidence suggests that poor sleep and stress are bi-directionally related, raising the possibility of a vicious feed-forward, self-sustaining cycle; i.e., stress promotes poor sleep which increases stress. More importantly, such a cycle could compound the independent disease risks of poor sleep and stress, hastening the development and progression of disease. Then again, since both sleep and stress represent modifiable targets for psychological and/or behavioral treatment, it might be possible to compound treatment effects through the same cycle. However, in order to appreciate the potential harm or potential treatment opportunity afforded by a bi-directional sleep-stress interaction its nature needs to be more clearly characterized. Long-term, the applicant aims to become an independent investigator of the mechanisms and health consequences of the bi-directional sleep-stress interaction. Consequently, the current proposal outlines a rigorous, assessment-based training plan specifically designed for the learning of sleep medicine theory and methodology and a complementary set of Specific Aims, generally aimed at systematically characterizing the bi-directional sleep-stress interaction using a range of research methods. First, meta-analysis will be used to quantitatively summarize the extant literature regarding the bi-directional sleep-stress interaction. Second, two waves of the Study of Women?s Health across the Nation (SWAN) Sleep Study will be analyzed using multilevel modeling with the intention of probing the sleep-stress interaction and determining its temporal stability. Third, a standardized psychological stress paradigm and polysomnography will be used to experimentally induce pre-sleep stress and probe the causal role of stress in disturbing sleep. This work fits into the mission of NHLBI to stimulate basic science into clinical practice by substantively contributing to the necessary understanding of how sleep and stress, ever-present aspects of modern daily life, interact, ultimately, to hasten the development and progression of disease, and/or provide a unique treatment target for the cardiovascular, metabolic, and affective disorders currently known to relate to poor sleep and high levels of stress.

Public Health Relevance

Independently, poor sleep and high levels of stress have been associated with cardiovascular, metabolic, and affective disorders. However, emerging evidence appears to suggest that poor sleep and stress are bi- directionally related, raising the possibility of a vicious feed-forward, self-sustaining cycle that could hasten the development and/or progression of disease. This research aims to characterize the bi-directional sleep-stress cycle and will contribute to the necessary understanding of how sleep and stress, ever-present aspects of modern daily life, interact to ultimately hasten the development and progression of disease, and/or provide a unique treatment target for the diseases currently known to independently relate to poor sleep and high levels of stress.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32HL137227-01
Application #
9322700
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1)
Program Officer
Brown, Marishka
Project Start
2017-05-01
Project End
2018-12-31
Budget Start
2017-05-01
Budget End
2018-04-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Brindle, Ryan C; Cribbet, Matthew R; Samuelsson, Laura B et al. (2018) The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma and Poor Sleep Health in Adulthood. Psychosom Med 80:200-207
Hall, Martica H; Brindle, Ryan C; Buysse, Daniel J (2018) Sleep and cardiovascular disease: Emerging opportunities for psychology. Am Psychol 73:994-1006
Hamilton, Jessica L; Brindle, Ryan C; Alloy, Lauren B et al. (2018) Childhood Trauma and Sleep Among Young Adults With a History of Depression: A Daily Diary Study. Front Psychiatry 9:673
Brindle, Ryan C; Duggan, Katherine A; Cribbet, Matthew R et al. (2018) Cardiovascular Stress Reactivity and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness: The Buffering Role of Slow-Wave Sleep. Psychosom Med 80:301-306
Brindle, Ryan C; Ginty, Annie T; Whittaker, Anna C et al. (2018) Assessment of the cerebral pressure-flow relationship using psychological stress to manipulate blood pressure. Psychophysiology 55:e13265