Evaluation of the therapeutic effect of anesthetic sleeping balance for treatment of chronic insomnia

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effect of anesthetic sleeping balance for treatment of chronic insomnia. Methods Twenty-four patients with chronic insomnia were treated with anesthetic sleeping balance on a voluntary basis with written informed consent. Polysomnographic (PSG) recordings were conducted and the scores of Leeds Sleep Evaluation Questionnaire (LSEQ) were measured before and after the therapy. Results Twenty-two of these patients showed an increase in the LSEQ score of over 100 after the therapy, with a total response rate of 92%. The therapy resulted in significant improvements in the sleep latency, sleep quality, alertness and behavioral integrity on the following morning and the total scores (P<0.05). PSG recording suggested increased total sleep duration, decreased sleep interruption frequency and shortened duration of wakefulness after the therapy, showing significant differences from the status before the therapy (P<0.05). Significant favorable changes also occurred in sleep architecture after the therapy, manifested by decreased S1% and increased S3%, S4% and percentage of rapid eye movement time. Conclusion Anesthetic sleeping balance may help minimize the sleep debt in patients with chronic insomnia and has also good effect in improving the sleep architecture in patients with refractory chronic insomnia. Key words: Anesthesia sleeping balance; Chronic insomnia; Propofol; Polysomnography record; Leeds sleep evaluation questionnaire