Study of sleep disturbances in patients with alcohol abuse or dependence

Abstract

Introduction

Previous studies inform that psychiatric patients often report problems with their sleep and alcohol increase sleep disturbances.

Aims

To analyze the prevalence of sleep disturbances in patients diagnosed of Alcohol Abuse or Dependence and to study clinical and sociodemographic variables associated with sleep disorders.

Methods

The sample is composed of a randomized sample of patients diagnosed of Alcohol Abuse or Dependence following DSM-IV-TR criteria and treated in a Mental Health Clinic in a period of 3 years. Medical records were reviewed. Quality and patterns of sleep were evaluated using the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) with a cut-off point 5-6.

Results

A total of 102 patients were included in the study, 69% were male and 31% were female. Mean age 39.4 years (SD 9.26).

Sleep disorders were found in 91.6% of patients. The most altered subscales in the overall sample were the Use of Sleeping Medication and Sleep Disturbances. Women presented worse sleep quality compared to men (P < 0.01) with higher number of altered subscales. The most altered subscales in women were Subjective Sleep Quality (P < 0.005) and Sleep Disturbances (P < 0.02).

Comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders and other clinical and sociodemographic variables are analyzed.

Conclusions

Sleep disorders have high prevalence in patients with alcohol abuse of dependence, especially in women and patients with other psychiatric comorbidity. Poor quality sleep may have a powerful impact on the global functioning and prognosis of these groups of psychiatric patients.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.