Subjective sleep–wake parameters in treatment-seeking opiate addicts

Abstract

We investigated subjective sleep parameters and sleep difficulties of opiate addicts undertaking methadone detoxification and identified their sleep profile. Using the St Mary's Sleep Questionnaire, we compared the subjective sleep parameters of 27 consecutively consenting patients (16 males, 11 females) with a mean age of 33 years (S.D.=7.5) undertaking in-patient methadone detoxification with those of 26 drug-free controls (9 males, 17 females) with a mean age of 35 years (S.D.=8.0). Our findings reveal that subjective sleep parameters of opiate addicts and controls are quantitatively and qualitatively different. The patients are more likely than controls to report difficulty initiating sleep (OR=5.42; 95%CI=1.43, 20.47); difficulty maintaining sleep (OR=16.50; 95%CI=3.81, 71.47); inadequate sleep quality (OR =8.56; 95%CI =2.04, 35.81); and inadequate sleep quantity (OR=9.00; 95%CI=2.49, 32.57).