Neurobiology of Sleep-Wakefulness Cycle 2(2): 37-39, 2002
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© 2002 NSWC

SLEEP IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: A PRELIMINARY STUDY USING THE PITTSBURGH SLEEP QUALITY INDEX

A. Royuela¹, J. A. Macias², J. A. Gil-Verona³, J. F. Pastor³, M. A. Maniega⁴, J. Alonso⁵, J. M. Román⁵, F. De Paz³, M. Barbosa³, L. Rami-Gonzalez⁶, T. Boget⁶

¹Unit of Psychiatry. Soria (Spain); ²Department of Psychiatry. University of Valladolid (Spain); ³Department of Anatomy. University of Valladolid (Spain); ⁴Unit of Psychology. University Hospital, Valladolid (Spain); ⁵Department of Psychology. University of Valladolid (Spain); ⁶Unit of Neuropsychology. Clinical Hospital, Barcelona (Spain)

Accepted in revised form 14 June 2002; recieved 22 April 2002.

Summary

Schizophrenia is related to changes in the architecture of sleep evaluated with polysomnography. Our purpose is to evaluate the sleep quality of schizophrenic people, comparing a schizophrenic group with a control group, and to investigate the effect of these factors. Material and methods: We evaluated 44 patients, 32 men and 12 women, comparing them with 44 healthy people. Both groups were questioned using the Spanish version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: Sleep quality in schizophrenics is damaged; they spend more time in bed than controls of the same age do and they sleep longer. These factors could represent an attempt to compensate for the deficit in slow wave sleep. Conclusion: Sleep quality in schizophrenic people is damaged. Thus, sleep quality profile could be a risk marker for this illness.

Key Words: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Schizophrenia, Sleep Quality.

Correspondence: Jose Antonio Gil-Verona
Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine
Ramon y Cajal, 7, 47005 Valladolid, SPAIN
E-mail: gil@med.uva.es