Relationship between alcohol craving levels and sleep disorders in the initial stage of withdrawal of alcohol dependence patients

Abstract

Objective To explore the characteristic of sleep disorders in the initial stage of withdrawal and their relationships with alcohol craving levels in alcohol dependence (AD) patients, and provide support for diagnosis and prevention of re-drinking. Methods Thirty-two AD inpatients were assigned to AD group and 20 male healthy volunteers to control group. Alcohol craving was assessed with the Pennsylvania Alcohol Craving Scale (PACS) within the 2nd week after alcohol withdrawal for AD patients, and then the whole-night polysomnogram (PSG) tracings were conducted on the day of the night. Results The five item scores of the PACS were from 3.48 to 4.26 in AD patients.The sleep latency was(42.48±22.42)min, total sleep time was(289.61±103.22)min, sleep efficiency was(71.45±19.86)%, S1 sleep was(23.47±11.07)% , arousal frequencies was(8.01±2.77), S3+ 4 sleep was(6.26±5.35)% in AD group.Compared with control group((19.65±8.57) min, (407.33±21.29) min, (81.52±6.46 )%, (8.79±1.83)%, (2.17±1.04), (15.87±5.24)% respectively), the differences had statistical significances(t=2.206-9.082, P<0.05-0.001). Alcohol craving levels were positively related to sleep latency, arousal frequencies and S1 sleep (r=0.424-0.898, P<0.05-0.01) and negatively to total sleep time, sleep efficiency and S3+ 4 sleep (r=-0.416--0.662, P<0.05-0.01) in AD group. Conclusion AD patients have sleep continuity and structure disturbances in the initial stage of alcohol withdrawal, sleep continuity and structure disturbances are related to alcohol craving. Improvements of sleep disorders should be paid during clinical alcohol dependence treatment. Key words: Alcohol dependence; Craving; Sleep disorders