Sleep quality in panic disorder

Sleep Quality In Panic Disorder Aim: The aim of this study was to find out the existence of higher rates of sleep problems in patients with panic disorder compared to healthy controls. Moreover, it was also aimed to determine at what level the major depression which is the most common comorbid diagnosis of panic disorder affects the sleep problems. Materials and methods: The study included 100 patients with panic disorder (50 pure panic disorder and 50 panic disorder + major depression) who consulted Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine Psychiatry Department in ambulatory conditions and their ages ranged between 18 and 65. Psychiatric interviews were made with the patients who were included in the study and their socio-demographic data was recorded. Beck depression scale, Beck anxiety scale, Pitsburgh index of sleep quality, sleeplessness severity scale and Epsworth daytime sleepiness scale were applied. Findings: 66 % of the patients who were included in the study were female. Their mean age was 37. A significant difference was found between the three groups which were included in the study in terms of educational status, socio-economic level, working status and alcohol usage. 61 % of the patients complained about insomnia. When the patients? duration of illnesses were analyzed, it was observed that 46 % of the patients with panic disorder had been ill for more than 12 months and 48 % of the patients which was affected by major depression had been ill for shorter than a month. A statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of duration of illness. The sleep latency in the patients of panic disorder and panic disorder + major depression was found as different statistically and significantly compared to the healthy controls. A statistically significant difference was revealed between the patients who had been ill for shorter than a month in terms of PUKI mean scores. A statistically significant difference was defined between the patients who had been ill for a month or longer in terms of Beck depression scale, Epsworth daytime sleepiness scales and mean sleeping time. A statistically high positive correlation was found between separately with each of Beck depression scale and Beck anxiety scale and Pitsburgh index of sleep quality, insomnia severity index and panic agoraphobia. Result:In this study, it was concluded that the severity and the duration of illness affected the sleep latency, sleep time and the rate of daytime sleepiness more significantly compared to the patients in the healthy group. The sleep latency, sleep time and daytime sleepiness time were also found significantly high in the group of patients with panic disorder and major depression. A more detailed investigation of this issue will be provided if the study is carried out with a larger patient population and if it is supported by polysomnographic data. Key Words: Agoraphobia, depression, insomnia, panicdisorder, sleep.