Examining the Relationship between Sleep Problems, Trauma, Anxiety and Executive Function in Youth during Inpatient Psychiatric Treatment

Childhood trauma is related to executive function (EF) difficulties (Lu et al., 2017) and children exhibit an increase in executive control as their sleep problems decrease (Friedman et al., 2009). It has been suggested that EF may play a role in reducing symptoms of posttraumatic stress following improved sleep. Sleep problems and trauma may relate to the emergence of anxiety disorders and other psychiatric symptoms in youth (Beesdo, Knappe, & Pine, 2009). Data was collected from 37 child and adolescents admitted inpatient to The Menninger Clinic, an inpatient psychiatric hospital (n = 16 males, 2= 21 females; aged from 12 to 17). We assessed trauma, EF, sleep problems, and anxiety. To assess these variables, we used the following measures: the Child PTSD Symptom Scale for DSM-V (CPSS-V), the NIH Toolbox Composite Fluid Cognition Score (NIH-CFC), The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item (GAD-7). A hierarchical linear regression predicting EF at admission was conducted. The findings indicate that trauma is a stronger predictor of EF difficulties over and above anxiety, sleep problems, and sex, which comports with previous literature (Friedman et al., 2009). This project was completed with contributions from Afsoon Gazor, Katrina Rufino, Megan Rech, Ryan Smith, John M. Oldham, and Michelle A. Patriquin from The Menninger Clinic and Baylor College of Medicine.