Diagnosis Of Insomnia Research Articles

Pain Experiences in Individuals with Reported and Suspected Sleep Disorders

The purpose of the present study was to examine whether individuals with varying reported and/or suspected insomnia and sleep apnea presentations differed with respect to pain. Data included 3,161 adults who participated in an online study investigating sleep and health. Participants reported a lifetime history of prior sleep disorder diagnoses while the presence of suspected sleep disorders was determined using the Insomnia Severity Index and the STOP-Bang. Average pain intensity was assessed using a visual analogue scale and pain interference was determined using two items from the PHQ-15. Participants who reported diagnoses of insomnia and/or sleep apnea reported greater pain intensity and interference compared to those with no sleep disorder; however, no differences in pain were observed between the various reported sleep disorders. Of participants who did not report either insomnia or sleep apnea diagnoses, 24% were suspected of having either insomnia, sleep apnea, or both disorders based on responses to questionnaires. Participants with one or more suspected sleep disorders reported higher pain intensity and interference than those without a suspected disorder. Additionally, having either suspected insomnia or suspected comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea was associated with greater pain intensity compared to only having suspected sleep apnea. Sleep disorders go commonly undiagnosed and are associated with adverse pain experiences. While results do not support a synergistic effect of suspected insomnia and sleep apnea on pain, findings indicate that screening for sleep disorders is warranted and may have important implications for pain treatment.

Explosive ordnance disposal personnel in the U.S. military have higher risk of insomnia and post-traumatic stress disorder: a large retrospective cohort study

Purpose: We examined the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), affective disorders, alcohol/substance-related disorders, traumatic brain injury (TBI) and insomnia, among explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians compared to the general population of active-duty non-EOD personnel in the U.S. military.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative and healthcare utilization data from fiscal year 2004 (FY2004) to FY2015 for this comparison. We used propensity score matching to balance baseline covariates, and discrete-time hazard models to compare the odds of occurrence of the outcomes.Results: EOD personnel had higher odds of having a new diagnosis of insomnia (odds ratio [OR] = 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.22–1.45) and PTSD (OR = 1.23; 95% CI:1.08–1.41) than did non-EOD personnel. EOD technicians had lower odds of having a new diagnosis of affective disorders (OR = 0.83; 95% CI:0.79–0.87) and alcohol/substance-related disorders (OR = 0.59; 95% CI:0.54–0.64) than did non-EOD personnel. There was little evidence of a difference in the odds of a TBI diagnosis (OR = 1.07; 95% CI:0.99–1.16).Conclusions: As reliance on EOD forces continues, ongoing vigilance of the stressors, health sequelae and disincentives to access mental health care among this military occupation should be monitored and mitigated wherever possible.

Incidence of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea in active duty United States military service members.

Epidemiologic studies of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and insomnia in the U.S. military are limited. The primary aim of this study was to report and compare OSA and insomnia diagnoses in active duty the United States military service members. Data and service branch densities used to derive the expected rates of diagnoses on insomnia and OSA were drawn from the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database. Single sample chi-square goodness of fit tests and independent samples t-tests were conducted to address the aims of the study. Between 2005 and 2019, incidence rates of OSA and insomnia increased from 11 to 333 and 6 to 272 (per 10,000), respectively. Service members in the Air Force, Navy, and Marines were diagnosed with insomnia and OSA below expected rates, while those in the Army had higher than expected rates (p < .001). Female service members were underdiagnosed in both disorders (p < .001). Comparison of diagnoses following the transition from ICD 9 to 10 codes revealed significant differences in the amounts of OSA diagnoses only (p < .05). Since 2005, incidence rates of OSA and insomnia have markedly increased across all branches of the U.S. military. Despite similar requirements for overall physical and mental health and resilience, service members in the Army had higher rates of insomnia and OSA. This unexpected finding may relate to inherent differences in the branches of the military or the role of the Army in combat operations. Future studies utilizing military-specific data and directed interventions are required to reverse this negative trend.

Insomnia in Tinnitus Patients: A Prospective Study Finding a Significant Relationship.

Tinnitus is a highly prevalent medical disorder occurring in 10-30% of the general population. This disorder often becomes chronic and severe effecting quality of life contributing to significant psychiatric consequences; one that we have written about recently is comorbid insomnia. The latter can predispose effected persons to depressive episodes and a worsening of their total functioning. We have reported in the past that comorbid insomnia occurs in 10-80% of tinnitus patients with most reports finding over a 40% frequency. Unfortunately, these prior studies tended to evaluate only insomnia as a symptom and not as a diagnosis; therefore its seriousness and implications could not be assessed. Furthermore, most studies utilized only open-ended questionnaires with many being sent via the mail. Our study evaluated 72 tinnitus patients who were prospectively evaluated over the telephone for a tinnitus treatment study program at our center focusing on possible co-morbid insomnia symptoms as well as whether the insomnia satisfied a diagnosis with its accompanying dysfunctional state. The interview included questions regard a full range of questions assessing sleep onset, sleep continuity, early morning awakening, sleep duration as well as daytime consequences necessary for a diagnosis of insomnia. We found that not only were insomnia symptoms highly prevalent, but 60% of the tinnitus sample met strict diagnostic criteria (DSM-IV-TR) of insomnia secondary to a general medical condition, i.e., tinnitus. Alarmingly, only 4 % were being treated for their insomnia. In addition, our data suggests that tinnitus patients with co-morbid insomnia have a more severe form of tinnitus and thus, may need further care and treatment.

Endorsement of European guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia by the World Sleep Society

The European guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia (1) was developed by a task force of the European Sleep Research Society, which was composed of 27 experts with clinical experience on insomnia management from different European countries and the European Insomnia Network. The guideline focused on insomnia disorder as defined by ICD-10/ICSD-3. Its starting point was the previously published guideline by the German Sleep Society, which was revised and expanded based on a review of relevant meta-analyses of insomnia therapies published through June 2016. The scope of this guideline was to provide recommendations on the treatment of chronic insomnia disorder. This guideline was selected for review by the World Sleep Society (WSS) Insomnia Task Force and the WSS International Sleep Medicine Guidelines Committee. A task force of content experts from the WSS has reviewed this guideline specifically for its relevance and applicability to the practice of sleep medicine by sleep specialists that comprise its membership.

Insomnia in patients with coronary heart disease: prevalence and correlates.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of insomnia and its association with clinical and psychosocial factors in a large sample of outpatients with coronary heart disease. The sample comprised 1,082 patients, mean age 62 years (21% female), who participated in the cross-sectional NORwegian CORonary Prevention Study. Patients who were hospitalized with myocardial infarction and/or a coronary revascularization procedure in 2011-2014 responded to a self-report questionnaire and participated in a clinical examination with blood samples 2-36 (mean, 16) months later. Insomnia was assessed using the Bergen Insomnia Scale, a questionnaire based on the criteria for the clinical diagnosis of insomnia as described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth version. We performed bivariate logistic regressions for crude analysis and backward stepwise logistic regressions for multiadjusted odds ratios (OR). In total, 488 patients (45%) reported insomnia, and 24% of these patients had used sleep medication in the previous week. Anxiety symptoms (OR: 5.61) were the strongest determinants of insomnia, followed by female sex (OR: 1.88), diabetes (OR: 1.83), eating fish fewer than three times a week (OR: 1.69), type D personality (OR: 1.69), and C-reactive protein ≥ 2 mg/L (OR:1.58), in multiadjusted analyses. Insomnia was highly prevalent in coronary heart disease outpatients. Psychological factors, lifestyle factors, and subclinical inflammation were associated with insomnia. Our results emphasize the need to identify patients with insomnia and provide appropriate management of insomnia in outpatients with coronary heart disease.

The (mis)perception of sleep: factors influencing the discrepancy between self-reported and objective sleep parameters.

Self-reported perception of sleep often differs from objective sleep study measures, but factors predicting the discrepancy between self-reported and objective sleep parameters are controversial, and a comparison of laboratory vs ambulatory polysomnography (PSG) is lacking. We retrospectively analyzed PSGs conducted between 2012 and 2016. Linear regression was applied to predict the discrepancy between self-reported and objective sleep parameters (total sleep time, sleep efficiency, sleep latency, using age, sex, arousal index, type of sleep disorder, and PSG type [laboratory vs ambulatory] as regressors). A total of 303 PSGs were analyzed (49% women, median age 48 years), comprising patients with insomnia (32%), sleep-related breathing disorders (27%), sleep-related movement disorders (15%), hypersomnia/narcolepsy (14%), and parasomnias (12%). Sleep disorder was the best predictor of discrepancy between self-reported and objective total sleep time, and patients with insomnia showed higher discrepancy values compared to all other patient groups (P < .001), independent of age and PSG type (P > .05). Contributory effects for higher discrepancy values were found for lower arousal index. Patients with insomnia underestimated both total sleep time (median discrepancy: 46 minutes, P < .001) and sleep efficiency (median discrepancy: 11%, P < .001). No significant predictor for discrepancy of sleep latency was found. Misperception of sleep duration and efficiency is common in sleep lab patients, but most prominent in insomnia, independent of age, sex, or laboratory vs ambulatory recording setting. This underlines the role of PSG in patients with a clinical diagnosis of insomnia and its use in cognitive behavioral therapy.

The dynamics of sleep quality in patients with chronic insomnia during the complex spa treatment with the inclusion of transcranial magnetic therapy

To assess the sleep quality dynamics in patients with chronic insomnia getting the complex spa treatment with the inclusion of transcranial magnetic therapy (TCMT). It was examined 122 patients (mean age 54.0±0.92 years) with a verified diagnosis of chronic insomnia; 68.9% were women and 31.1% were men. The patients were randomized into 2 groups: the main group included 62 patients who received a spa complex and TCMT; the comparison group included 60 patients who received an identical treatment complex without TCMT. All patients were evaluated by polysomnography (PSG) data, insomnia severity index (ISI) and subjective symptoms of daytime functioning. As a result of treatment program implementation the patients of both groups showed a decrease in ISI and a subjective improvement in daytime well-being. In the main group the treatment led to an increase in the number of patients with mild disorders by 51.7%, a decrease in patients with moderate disorders by 16.2%, severe disorders by 45.2%, and the formation of a group of 6 people (9.7%) without sleep disorders. In the comparison group after treatment the proportion of patients with mild disorders increased by 33.3%, with moderate disorders by 3.3%, the number of patients with severe disorders decreased by 41.6%, and 3 (5%) patients had no symptoms. The mean value of ISI in the main group decreased by 35.9% (p<0.001), in the comparison group - by 23.1% (p<0.001), the difference was 12.8% (p<0.001). From clinical perspective, patients noted an improvement in the process of falling asleep, a decrease in the number of nighttime awakenings, an increase in the duration of sleep, and an improvement in functioning while awake. After the use of therapeutic complexes in patients of both groups there was a favorable reliable dynamics in the change in PSG indicators that was more pronounced in the main group. The difference between the groups in terms of PSG was: for the wakefulness time during sleep 16.3% (p<0.005), for the number of awakenings during sleep 12.8% (p<0.001), for the latency of falling asleep 13.9% (p<0.05), for micro-activation index 14.6% (p<0.05), for sleep efficiency 4.9% (p<0.05). The inclusion of TCMT in complex spa treatment can significantly reduce ISI, the symptoms' severity of impaired daytime functioning and improve sleep quality indicators according to PSG data in patients with chronic insomnia.

Deletion polymorphism of GSTT1 gene and lipid peroxidation hyperactivation in menopausal insomnia

A comparative analysis of the parameters of lipid peroxidation - antioxidant defense system in menopausal women with- and without insomnia, depending on the GSTT1 polymorphism. The study included 181 menopausal Caucasian women (ethnic group - Russians), who according to the results of the clinical-anamnestic examinations were divided into insomnia group (n=120, age 53.68±4.61 years, body mass index 26.47±3.73 kg/m2) and control group (n=61, age 52.64±4.91 years, body mass index 27.69±3.11 kg/m2). The insomnia group was formed according to the clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic insomnia in adults, and scores of the Insomnia Severity Index. The study of the GSTT1 gene polymorphism was carried out using polymerase chain reaction. The lipid peroxidation - antioxidant system parameters were determined by spectrofluorophotometric methods. In the insomnia group, carriers of the normal GSTT1 genotype had higher diene conjugates with lower glutathione peroxidase activity as compared to controls. When comparing groups of women with the deletion in GSTT1, an increase in the content of substrates and lipid peroxidation products was observed at all stages of lipid peroxidation, oxidized glutathione, glutathione S-transferase activity with a decrease in the content of reduced glutathione and retinol in the insomnia group as compared to controls. In the insomnia group, carriers of the deletion genotype had a higher content of ketodienes/conjugated trienes and active products of thiobarbituric acid, a lower content of retinol and α-tocopherol as compared to the patients with normal GSTT1 genotype. Conclusions. Insomnia in the menopausal women is accompanied with the intensification of lipid peroxidation only in the carriers of the GSTT1 deletion genotype.

Primary care is the frontline for help-seeking insomnia patients

Background Although insomnia is a very common disorder, few people seek medical help. Objectives To determine the proportion of people who consult a healthcare professional about insomnia and examine reasons for help seeking. Methods Descriptive study of 99 patients diagnosed with insomnia following a telephone survey of 466 adults assigned to a primary healthcare unit in Majorca (Spain). Data were obtained from interviews and subsequent review of electronic medical records. Results Thirty-nine patients (39.8%) consulted at least once with one health care professional; 36(92.2%) consulted a general practitioner. Only 12.2% had an insomnia diagnosis registered in their medical record. Insomnia consultation was not associated with any sociodemographic variables analysed, anxiety, depression or comorbidities. Also, there was no association with sleep quality, duration, and sleep efficiency. Patients with clinical insomnia (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.03–5.94), those who were more worried (OR, 2.93; 95% CI 1.08–7.95) or felt that others noticed the impact of insomnia on their quality of life (OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.02–19.08) are more likely to seek medical help. Patients taking sleep medication were 21.54 (95% CI, 7.34–63.20) times more likely to have asked for medical assistance. Conclusion Insomnia is an under-reported problem for both patients and doctors. When patients decide to consult for insomnia problems, they first go to the GP, and the vast majority take medications for their sleep problem. Those who consult most are people with more severe insomnia and those who are more worried.

Painful Sleep: Insomnia in Patients with Chronic Pain Syndrome and its Consequences.

Insomnia is a chronic condition that occurs a minimum of three times per week over a period of three or more subsequent months. There are multiple causes of insomnia, and even though it is considered a symptom, it can be associated with chronic illnesses. Chronic pain syndrome, which is defined as pain that persists for a period longer than 3 months, is one of several etiologies of insomnia. The prevalence of insomnia among chronic pain patients is greater in comparison with the general population (percentage or ratio). Chronic pain is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, spinal pain (such as chronic back pain) and fibromyalgia. The prevalence of in-somnia is also higher in cancer patients when compared to the general population. When the clinical history indicates a straightforward diagnosis of chronic pain syndrome, patients will complain of insomnia as part of their symptomatology. It is imperative to manage their underlying illness to alleviate their sleep disorder. Various medications may be used to relieve and even improve pain symptoms. Other than pharmacological interventions, non-pharmacological alternatives such as yoga, meditation, acupuncture, and psychotherapy can help improve the quality of life of these patients. The purpose of this article is to review the diagnosis and management of insomnia in chronic pain syndrome and its impact on the quality of life.

ПРОГНОСТИЧЕСКАЯ РОЛЬ МЕЛАТОНИНА В ОЦЕНКЕ КЛИНИЧЕСКОГО ТЕЧЕНИЯ АРТЕРИАЛЬНОЙ ГИПЕРТЕНЗИИ

Background. Sleep disorders are one of the most common problems in patients with arterial hypertension (AH). Circadian blood pressure (BP) cycles are most likely associated with the regulatory influence of melatonin. However, in patients with hypertension, if melatonin production de-creases, no respective reduction of BP is noted during sleep. Aim. Analyze the quality of sleep, chronotypes, clinical, instrumental and laboratory parameters depending on urinary melatonin level (UML), to determine a prognosis for the course of AH in patients with insomnia. Materials and Methods. We examined 178 patients with AH and insomnia aged from 30 to 70 years (mean age 61.3±0.92 years). The AH diagnosis was based on 2018 ESC/ESH guidelines for the management of AH, and on Clinical guidelines of Russian Society of Cardiology – AH in adults (2020). The diagnosis of insomnia was based on the international classification of sleep disorders (2005). Using Multiple Regression Analysis, we determined the factors that influence the levels of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) in AH patients with insomnia. Results. Patients with AH and insomnia have a more severe clinical course of the disease, with frequent turning for medical help, altered BP variability, high anxiety level, high depression level and low level of the quality of life. The patients with AH and insomnia have low UML which correlated with the degree of hypertension, chronotypes, high systolic and diastolic BP, BMI, high depression and anxiety level, and low level of the quality of life in the physical and psychological aspects. Conclusion. The developed methods for calculating the levels of SBP and DBP, depending on the level of UML, body mass index, anxiety and depression level, and PSQI, allow reliable evaluation and control of the BP level in patients with AH and insomnia.

Palyatif Bakımda Amyotrofik Lateral Skleroz’da Yatış Süresini Etkileyen Faktörler

Aim: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that progresses with the degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. In our study, we aimed to investigate the effects of demographic characteristics and symptoms of patients hospitalized in our palliative care center (PCC) with ALS on length of stay (LOS).&#x0D; &#x0D; Materials and Methods: 47 patients were included in this retrospective study. The ages, sexes, diagnosis times, LOS in PCC, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG), tracheostomy, pressure ulcer (PU), discharge conditions and symptoms of the patients included in the study were compared. The diagnosis of insomnia and depression were made using the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) and Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS).&#x0D; Results: The mean age of the patients was 56.55 years; the average length of stay was 50.55 days. All patients had a tracheostomy, 95.7% had PEG, and 55.3% had PU. 66% of the patients had insomnia, 61.7% had depression and all had pain, and the discharge status of 21.3% was exitus. We found that the length of stay was significantly longer in patients with symptoms of depression and insomnia among the patients we followed up in PCC. (p=0.049, p=0.014)&#x0D; Conclusions: Diagnosis and treatment of symptoms such as depression, insomnia and pain in patients with ALS who are followed up in palliative care should be timely and adequate support should be provided. We think that early access to PC, timely recognition of symptoms and good management of patients diagnosed with ALS will increase the quality of life of patients.

Benzodiazepine Use Before Conception and Risk of Ectopic Pregnancy

IntroductionEctopic pregnancy occurs in 1% to 2% of the all recognized pregnancies, yet half of women who have an ectopic pregnancy do not have any known risk factors. A potential but unstudied risk factor for ectopic pregnancy is benzodiazepine use, which could affect muscle contraction in the fallopian tube.&#x0D; Objectives and ApproachWe compared the risk of ectopic pregnancy among women with and women without benzodiazepine prescriptions before conception. using data from United States commercial insurance claims (IBM® MarketScan® Databases). We performed a cohort study of 1,691,366 pregnancies between November 1, 2008 and September 30, 2015, and used unadjusted and inverse probability of treatment (IPT) weighted log-binomial models to calculate relative risks (RR) of ectopic pregnancy for pregnant women who did and did not fill any prescriptions for benzodiazepines in the 90 days before conception. Sub-group analysis was conducted on women who had anxiety and women who had insomnia diagnoses in the year before conception.&#x0D; ResultsOf the 1,691,366 pregnant women, 1.06% filled at least two benzodiazepine prescriptions in the 90 days before conception. Among women with a benzodiazepine prescription, there was an excess of 80 ectopic pregnancies per 10,000 pregnancies, and their IPT-weighted risk of ectopic pregnancies was 1.47 (95% CI 1.32 to 1.63) times greater relative to women without benzodiazepine prescriptions before conception. The IPT-weighted RR between ectopic pregnancy and benzodiazepine use was 1.34 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.53) among women with anxiety disorder diagnoses and 1.28 (95% CI 0.99 to 1.68) among women with an insomnia diagnosis.&#x0D; Conclusion / ImplicationsThis study found that women who have a benzodiazepine prescription before conception are at an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy. This information can help women and their health care providers make more fully informed decisions about benzodiazepine use in their reproductive years.

Korean Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Insomnia in Adults.

Objective We aim to present a clinical guideline for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia in adults by reviewing and integrating existing clinical guidelines. The purpose of this guideline is to assist clinicians who perform evidence-based insomnia treatment. Methods We selected literature that may be appropriate for use in guideline development from evidence-based practice guidelines that have been issued by an academic or governmental institution within the last five years. The core question of this guideline was made in sentence form including Patient/Problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) elements. After searching PubMed, EMBASE, and medical guideline issuing agencies, three guidelines were judged to be the most appropriately reviewed, up-to-date, and from trusted sources. Results The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II tool was used to evaluate the quality of the three clinical guidelines. The final outcome of the guideline development process is a total of 15 recommendations that report the strength of the recommendation, the quality of evidence, a summary of content, and considerations in applying the recommendation. Conclusion It is vital for clinical guidelines for insomnia to be developed and continually updated in order to provide more accurate evidence-based treatments to patients.

Use of the Consumer-Based Meditation App Calm for Sleep Disturbances: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

BackgroundOver 30% of Americans report regular sleep disturbance, and consumers are increasingly seeking strategies to improve sleep. Self-guided mindfulness mobile apps may help individuals improve their sleep. Despite the recent proliferation of sleep content within commercially available mindfulness apps, there is little research on how consumers are using these apps for sleep.ObjectiveWe conducted a cross-sectional survey among subscribers to Calm, a popular, consumer-based, mindfulness-based meditation app, and described and compared how good sleepers, poor sleepers, and those with self-reported insomnia use the app for sleep.MethodsParticipants who were paying subscribers of Calm and had used a sleep component of Calm in the last 90 days were invited to complete an investigator-developed survey that included questions about sleep disturbance and the use of Calm for sleep. Based on self-reports of sleep disturbances and of insomnia diagnosis, participants were categorized as “good sleepers,” “poor sleepers,” or “those with insomnia diagnosis.” Chi-square tests compared reasons for downloading the app and usage patterns across participants with and without sleep disturbance.ResultsThere was a total of 9868 survey respondents. Approximately 10% of participants (1008/9868, 10.21%) were good sleepers, 78% were poor sleepers (7565/9868, 77.66%), and 11% reported a diagnosis of insomnia (1039/9868, 10.53%). The sample was mostly White (8185/9797, 83.55%), non-Hispanic (8929/9423, 94.76%), and female (8166/9578, 85.26%). The most common reasons for sleep disturbances were racing thoughts (7084/8604, 82.33%), followed by stress or anxiety (6307/8604, 73.30%). Poor sleepers and those with insomnia were more likely than good sleepers to have downloaded Calm to improve sleep (χ22=1548.8, P<.001), reduce depression or anxiety (χ22=15.5, P<.001), or improve overall health (χ22=57.6, P<.001). Respondents with insomnia used Calm most often (mean 5.417 days/week, SD 1.936), followed by poor sleepers (mean 5.043 days/week, SD 2.027; F2=21.544, P<.001). The most common time to use Calm was while lying down to sleep (7607/9686, 78.54%), and bedtime use was more common among poor sleepers and those with insomnia (χ22=382.7, P<.001). Compared to good and poor sleepers, those with insomnia were more likely to use Calm after waking up at night (χ22=410.3, P<.001). Most participants tried to use Calm on a regular basis (5031/8597, 58.52%), but regular nighttime use was most common among those with insomnia (646/977, 66.1%), followed by poor sleepers (4040/6930, 58.30%; χ22=109.3, P<.001).ConclusionsOf the paying subscribers to Calm who have used one of the sleep components, approximately 90% have sleep difficulties, and 77% started using Calm primarily for sleep. These descriptive data point to areas of focus for continued refinement of app features and content, followed by prospective trials testing efficacy of consumer-based meditation mobile apps for improving sleep.

Development and Validation of the Insomnia Daytime Symptoms and Impacts Questionnaire (IDSIQ).

Background and ObjectiveChronic insomnia has major consequences for daytime functioning, yet no fully validated patient-reported outcome instrument for once-daily assessments is available to measure these consequences. This study describes the development and psychometric evaluation of the Insomnia Daytime Symptoms and Impacts Questionnaire (IDSIQ).MethodsThe Daytime Insomnia Symptom Scale (DISS), an existing 20-item instrument for assessing daytime functioning, was modified to give an 18-item version of the IDSIQ (IDSIQ-18) based on iterative qualitative interviews with 54 subjects with insomnia and expert input. The construct validity and other psychometric properties of the IDSIQ-18 were analyzed based on an interventional study (NCT03056053) in which subjects with insomnia received zolpidem (5 or 10 mg) daily for 2 weeks and an observational study among subjects with no diagnosis of insomnia (good sleepers). Participants in both studies completed the IDSIQ-18 daily for 2 weeks. Exit interviews were conducted with a sample of subjects who completed the interventional study to elicit concepts defining the experience of insomnia, to assess understanding of the response scales, and to determine meaningful change thresholds. Exploratory factor analysis and Rasch analysis were conducted to further assess the structure and latent model for the scoring of the final IDSIQ instrument. Further psychometric evaluation of the final IDSIQ was then conducted.ResultsSubjects in both the interventional study (N = 114) and observational study (N = 103) were predominantly female (65% for subjects with insomnia and 60% for good sleepers). Mean age was 51 years for subjects with insomnia and 45 years for good sleepers. Subjects in the exit interviews (N = 41) demonstrated a good understanding of the IDSIQ-18 response scales. Day 1 mean scores were higher (worse) in subjects with insomnia compared with good sleepers. Based on inter-item correlation, exploratory factor, and Rasch analyses and review of the qualitative data, four items were removed. This yielded the final IDSIQ, with 14 items comprising three domains: Alert/Cognition, Mood, and Sleepiness. The domain structure was determined in a confirmatory factor analysis. Evidence of internal consistency reliability was strong: day 1 Cronbach’s alpha was 0.917 for IDSIQ total score and 0.806–0.918 for the domains. Test-retest reliability, assessed for subjects with insomnia with no change on the Patient Global Assessment of Disease Severity scale between day 1 and day 8, was also good (intra-class correlation coefficient 0.856–0.911). Meaningful change thresholds derived for this sample using anchor-based approaches were 20 for IDSIQ total score, 9 for the Alert/Cognition domain, 4 for the Mood domain, and 4 for the Sleepiness domain.ConclusionsThese studies, which closely followed Food and Drug Administration Guidance for Industry on patient-reported outcome measures, support use of the IDSIQ as a fit-for-purpose measure for deriving valid and reliable endpoints in insomnia clinical research trials and real-world studies.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s40271-020-00474-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Gut Microbiota Changes and Their Relationship with Inflammation in Patients with Acute and Chronic Insomnia.

PurposeThe major purpose of this study was to detect the changes in gut microbiota composition and inflammatory cytokines production associated with acute and chronic insomnia. This study also evaluated the relationship between gut microbiota changes and increased inflammatory cytokines in insomnia patients.Patients and MethodsOutpatients with acute and chronic insomnia (aged 26–55 years; n=20 and 38, respectively) and age/gender-matched healthy controls (n=38) were recruited from a southern China region. Participants’ gut microbiome, plasma cytokines, and self-reported sleep quality and psychopathological symptoms were measured.ResultsThe gut microbiomes of insomnia patients compared with healthy controls were characterized by lower microbial richness and diversity, depletion of anaerobes, and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria, and an expansion of potential pathobionts. Lachnospira and Bacteroides were signature bacteria for distinguishing acute insomnia patients from healthy controls, while Faecalibacterium and Blautia were signature bacteria for distinguishing chronic insomnia patients from healthy controls. Acute/chronic insomnia-related signature bacteria also showed correlations with these patients’ self-reported sleep quality and plasma IL-1β.ConclusionThese findings suggest that insomnia symptomology, gut microbiota, and inflammation may be interrelated in complex ways. Gut microbiota may serve as an important indicator for auxiliary diagnosis of insomnia and provide possible new therapeutic targets in the field of sleep disorders.

Validation of insomnia questionnaires in the general population: The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT).

The primary aim was to validate questionnaire-based insomnia diagnoses from a modified Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire (KSQ) and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), by age category (< or >65years), against a semi-structured face-to-face interview. Secondary aims were to split validity by diagnostic certainty of the interview and to compare prevalence estimates of questionnaire- and interview-based diagnoses. A total of 232 out of 1,200 invited (19.3%) from the fourth Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT4) completed questionnaires, including the KSQ and ISI, shortly before attending a face-to-face diagnostic interview for insomnia based on the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Both a tentative (DSM-5 criteria A-E) and a definite (criteria A-H) interview diagnosis was evaluated. Cohen's kappa statistic quantified questionnaire validity. In all, 33% (95% confidence interval 27-39%) of participants had definite insomnia: 40% of women and 21% of men. The ISI (cut-off 12) and several KSQ-based diagnoses showed very good validity (κ ≤0.74) against the tentative, versus good validity (κ ≤0.61) against the definite interview diagnosis. Short questionnaires, requiring a daytime symptom at least three times a week, may underestimate insomnia prevalence. Validity was consistently higher for persons aged below versus above 65years (definite insomnia: κ ≤0.64 vs. κ ≤0.56). Our results have implications for epidemiological population-based studies utilising insomnia questionnaires.

The role of rating scales in the diagnosis of postoperative insomnia

Background. Sleep disorders can be considered as an integral expression of the perioperative stress response. Postoperative insomnia is one of the most common postoperative complications: the incidence is exceed 70 %. The gold standard for the diagnosis of insomnia is polysomnography, which is rarely available in postoperative patients. Instead, rating scales are an easy-to-use, inexpensive and affordable tool.&#x0D; Objective. To compare scales for assessment of sleep in postoperative patients.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The study included 38 patients after general surgery. The age was 26-68 years (54.6±9.4). The gender distribution: 16 men and 22 women. All patients undergo an overnight 10-hour video-EEG. EEG patterns of insomnia were considered sleep latency of more than 30 min, wakefulness during sleep more than 30 min, total sleep time less than 6.5 h, sleep efficiency index &lt;84 %. The Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS), Richards – Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) was applied to patients the day after surgery. For reliability analysis was used Cronbach’s alpha. Were calculated sensitivity and specificity of the scales.&#x0D; Results. Video-EEG patterns of insomnia was present in 15 subjects. The rest 23 subjects did not have signs of insomnia in video-EEG. The Cronbach’s alpha for AIS was 0.90, for RCSQ – 0.89 and for ISI – 0.86. The sensitivity of AIS for postoperative insomnia was 84.6 %, RCSQ – 76.9 % and ISI – 69.2 %. The specificity level was 85.7 % for AIS, 81.0 % for RCSQ, and 69.2 % for ISI.&#x0D; Conclusions. The rating scales used in the study showed sufficient reliability, sensitivity and specificity and can be used as a valid method of assessing sleep in postoperative patients.