Objective Measures Of Sleep Disturbance Research Articles

The temporal relationships between sleep disturbance and autonomic dysregulation: A co-twin control study

IntroductionSleep disturbance is associated with autonomic dysregulation, but the temporal directionality of this relationship remains uncertain. The objective of this study was to evaluate the temporal relationships between objectively measured sleep disturbance and daytime or nighttime autonomic dysregulation in a co-twin control study. MethodsA total of 68 members (34 pairs) of the Vietnam Era Twin Registry were studied. Twins underwent 7-day in-home actigraphy to derive objective measures of sleep disturbance. Autonomic function indexed by heart rate variability (HRV) was obtained using 7-day ECG monitoring with a wearable patch. Multivariable vector autoregressive models with Granger causality tests were used to examine the temporal directionality of the association between daytime and nighttime HRV and sleep metrics, within twin pairs, using 7-day collected ECG data. ResultsTwins were all male, mostly white (96%), with mean (SD) age of 69 (2) years. Higher daytime HRV across multiple domains was bidirectionally associated with longer total sleep time and lower wake after sleep onset; these temporal dynamics were extended to a window of 48 h. In contrast, there was no association between nighttime HRV and sleep measures in subsequent nights, or between sleep measures from previous nights and subsequent nighttime HRV. ConclusionsDaytime, but not nighttime, autonomic function indexed by HRV has bidirectional associations with several sleep dimensions. Dysfunctions in autonomic regulation during wakefulness can lead to subsequent shorter sleep duration and worse sleep continuity, and vice versa, and their influence on each other may extend beyond 24 h.

Objective measures of sleep disturbances in children with Potocki–Lupski syndrome

Potocki-Lupski syndrome (PTLS; MIM 610883) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a microduplication, a 3.7 Mb copy number variant, mapping within chromosome 17p11.2, encompassing the dosage-sensitive RAI1 gene. Whereas RAI1 triplosensitivity causes PTLS, haploinsufficiency of RAI1 due to 17p11.2 microdeletion causes the clinically distinct Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS; MIM 182290). Most individuals with SMS have an inversion of the melatonin cycle. Subjects with PTLS have mild sleep disturbances such as sleep apnea with no melatonin abnormalities described. Sleep patterns and potential disturbances in subjects with PTLS have not been objectively characterized. We delineated sleep characteristics in 23 subjects with PTLS who underwent a polysomnogram at Texas Children's Hospital. Eleven of these subjects (58%) completed the Child's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ). Urinary melatonin was measured in one patient and published previously. While the circadian rhythm of melatonin in PTLS appears not to be disrupted, we identified significant differences in sleep efficiency, percentage of rapid eye movement sleep, oxygen nadir, obstructive apnea hypopnea index, and periodic limb movements between prepubertal subjects with PTLS and previously published normative data. Data from the CSHQ indicate that 64% (7/11) of parents do not identify a sleep disturbance in their children. Our data indicate that younger individuals, <10 years, with PTLS have statistically significant abnormalities in five components of sleep despite lack of recognition of substantial sleep disturbances by parents. Our data support the contention that patients with PTLS should undergo clinical evaluations for sleep disordered breathing and periodic limb movement disorder, both of which are treatable conditions.

EFFECT OF SEX DIFFERENCES ON INFLAMMATION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA: RELATIONSHIPS WITH SLEEP DISTURBANCES, COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING, AND CARDIOMETABOLIC RISK

Introduction Persons with schizophrenia (SZ) have life expectancies that are 15-20 years shorter than the general population, primarily due to cardiovascular-related deaths. In addition to premature mortality, persons with SZ have high rates of disability largely due to cognitive deficits. While cardiometabolic risk as well as cognition are known to be associated with poor sleep and inflammation in the general population, this has not been systematically examined in persons with SZ, although SZ is associated with inflammatory pathology and sleep disturbances that predate the use of antipsychotic medications and accumulation of poor lifestyle habits. Within the general population, women have higher inflammatory marker levels and are more likely to have sleep disturbances and cognitive decline as they age. This study examines the link between sleep, cognition and cardiometabolic risk within persons with SZ, focusing on sex differences. Methods The sample included 152 subjects with SZ (DSM-IV-TR criteria) and 141 non-psychiatric comparison (NC) subjects (age range 26 to 65 years; mean 48), with comparable sex and race distribution. We examined sleep (self-reported duration and quality), cardiometabolic risk [Framingham 10-year Risk of cardiovascular disease, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein or hs-CRP, insulin resistance using the Homeostatic Model of Assessment for Insulin Resistance or HOMA-IR], cognition [executive functioning (D-KEFS), overall cognitive functioning (TICS - modified)]; and blood-based inflammatory markers (TNF-a, IL-6, IL-10). In a subset of subjects, we also examined objective measures of sleep (total sleep time (TST), wake after sleep onset (WASO), latency, and efficiency) using wrist-worn actigraphy. The sleep-inflammation-cardiometabolic risk links were examined using Spearman's correlations and general linear models with a backward elimination approach to trim the models. Results The SZ group reported higher total sleep time and worse sleep quality, worse cardiometabolic risk, and increased levels of inflammatory markers compared to NCs. Within the SZ group, SZ men had higher Framingham Risk, lower hs-CRP and IL-6 levels, as well as better overall cognitive functioning than SZ women (Cohen's d = -0.65, 0.48, 0.38, and -0.33, respectively.) In SZ men, shorter sleep duration and poor sleep quality was associated with higher IL-6 and TNF-a levels and better executive functioning. Within the SZ group, Framingham Risk was associated with sex (as expected), age, IL-6, TNF-a, and overall cognition such that younger women with lower levels of IL-6 and TNF-a as well as better overall cognition had lower Framingham Risk (partial eta-squared = 0.19, 0.27, 0.03, 0.04, and 0.02, respectively). The levels of hs-CRP and HOMA-IR were not associated with sex. The levels of hs-CRP was associated with age, IL-6 and overall cognition (partial eta-squared = 0.02, 0.19, and 0.08, respectively). HOMA-IR was associated with age, duration of sleep, sleep quality, IL-6, and overall cognition such that younger persons with longer sleep duration, better sleep quality, lower inflammation and better cognitive functioning had less insulin resistance (partial eta-squared = 0.02, 0.02, 0.05, 0.03, and 0.08, respectively.) Objective measures of sleep disturbances (TST, WASO) were associated with HOMA-IR, executive functioning, as well as levels of hs-CRP and IL-6. Conclusions There are complexities in the associations of different inflammatory biomarkers with clinically meaningful measures of sleep, cardiometabolic health and cognition that reveal sex differences in SZ. Self-reported sleep disturbances and increased inflammation are associated in persons with SZ. Levels of inflammation and sleep disturbances, and their relationships, were sex-dependent in the SZ group, but not the NC group. Longitudinal examination of the sleep-inflammation links, their contribution to clinical outcomes, and the relationship with objective sleep measures and sex-specific factors is warranted. This research was funded by This study was supported, in part, by the National Institutes of Health (grant R01MH094151-01 to DVJ [PI]), by the National Institute of Mental Health T32 Geriatric Mental Health Program (grant MH019934 to DVJ [PI]), by the Stein Institute for Research on Aging at the University of California San Diego, and by the National Institutes of Health, Grant UL1TR001442 of CTSA funding. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

The Use of Actigraphy Differentiates Sleep Disturbances in Active and Inactive Crohn's Disease.

Sleep disturbances (SDs) are commonly reported in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Several survey instruments assessing subjective measures of insufficient sleep have identified SDs in subjects with CD. However, there are limited data on objective measures of SDs in these patients as they relate to disease activity. In this prospective cross-sectional study, we compared objective estimates of sleep obtained using multiday wrist actigraphy in individuals with CD with varying disease activity. Eighty patients with a diagnosis of CD were recruited to take part in the study. Participants were stratified by disease activity into remission, mild disease, and moderate to severe disease groups using the Harvey-Bradshaw Index and C-reactive protein levels. Participants were excluded on the basis of significant comorbidity (Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3), a known history of a sleep disorder, or the concomitant use of systemic corticosteroids. Participants completed surveys, including the PROMIS-SD Short Form 8a, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and the Women's Health Initiative Insomnia Rating scale, and were provided with an accelerometer that estimated sleep-wake patterns over 7 days. Comparisons of actigraphic sleep parameters were performed between disease activity groups. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed using covariates determined a priori to have an association with sleep disturbance in CD through a review of the literature. Of the 80 participants enrolled in the study, 72 completed 5 days of actigraphy data: 28 subjects in remission, 22 subjects with mild disease activity, and 22 subjects with moderate to severe disease activity. Self-reported sleep characteristics assessed by questionnaires were similar between groups. By actigraphy, individuals with moderate to severe CD spent a significantly longer time awake after falling asleep compared with subjects with remissive disease or compared with subjects with mild disease (65.8 minutes vs 44.3 minutes and 49.1 minutes, respectively; each P < 0.05). Individuals with moderate to severe CD had significantly lower sleep efficiency compared with those with remissive CD (86.6% vs 89.9%; P = 0.03). In the multivariate analyses, moderate to severe CD disease activity was significantly associated with an increased amount of fragmented sleep (odds ratio [OR], 3.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-11.32; P = 0.02; WASO ≥ 60 minutes). Moreover, the use of controlled substances was associated with poor sleep efficiency (OR, 3.86; 95% CI, 1.01-14.7; P = 0.04; SE ≤ 85.5%). This is the first study to objectively quantify disturbed sleep using wrist actigraphy in adults with CD with varying disease activity. Wrist actigraphy may serve as a useful modality for discerning SD in subjects with active vs remissive disease that is not evident with questionnaires alone. Although we determined that disease severity is a significant factor that leads to SDs in CD, larger studies using these objective measures may help determine the contribution of other factors.

0610 SUBJECTIVE SLEEP QUALITY RELATES TO DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMATOLOGY IN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA PATIENTS

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) are common tools to assess sleep disturbance in various patient populations. However, PSQI was shown to relate to psychological variables rather than objective sleep measures in non-clinical samples, and ISI was related to symptoms of depression in OSA patients. We related PSQI and ISI to PSG variables and depressive symptomatology in patients undergoing OSA evaluation. Forty-nine patients (18-59y.o., 24 women, 27 minorities, no neurological or endocrine conditions) completed PSQI (normal range PSQI<6), ISI (normal range: ISI<8), and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised (normal range: CESD-R<16) on the evening of PSG. PSQI and ISI scores were regressed on sleep latency, sleep efficiency, awakenings, arousal index, N1%, N3%, REM%, REM latency, AHI, SpO2% nadir, time spent below SpO2 90%, desaturation index, and CESD-R. Age, sex and BMI were used as covariates wherever significant. Mean AHI=22.9 ± 32.5; mean PSQI=8.0 ± 3.3; mean ISI=10.9 ± 5.8; mean CESD-R=10.6 ± 9.1. Higher PSQI was related to higher REM% (p=0.02) and higher CESD-R (p=0.01). Higher ISI was related to higher CESD-R (p=0.01) and not to any PSG variables. In regressing CESD-R onto PSG measures, higher CESD-R related to longer REM latency (p=0.02), with no relationship to other variables. On average, OSA patients reported disturbed sleep on PSQI and ISI, while depressive symptomatology was within normal limits. However, self-reported poor sleep related to depressive symptoms rather than objective measures of sleep disturbance and sleep disordered breathing. Generally sub-clinical CESD-R scores and the direct relationship between CESD-R and REM latency in this sample argue against endogenous depression. To the extent present, depressive symptoms in OSA patients may represent a negative cognitive style, which bears on the patient’s subjective evaluation of their sleep. None.

How Well Do Children with Cystic Fibrosis Sleep? An Actigraphic and Questionnaire-Based Study

To measure sleep patterns and quality, objectively and subjectively, in clinically stable children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and healthy control children, and to examine the relationship between sleep quality and disease severity. Clinically stable children with CF and healthy control children (7-18 years of age) were recruited. Sleep patterns and quality were measured at home with actigraphy (14 days). Overnight peripheral capillary oxygen saturation was measured via the use of pulse oximetry. Daytime sleepiness was evaluated by the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS) and subjective sleep quality by the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children and Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18. A total of 87 children with CF and 55 control children were recruited with no differences in age or sex. Children with CF had significantly lower total sleep time and sleep efficiency than control children due to frequent awakenings and more wake after sleep onset. In children with CF, forced expiratory volume in 1 second and overnight peripheral capillary oxygen saturation nadir correlated positively with total sleep time and sleep efficiency and negatively with frequency of awakenings and wake after sleep onset. Patients with CF had significantly greater Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (45 vs 35; P < .001), Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 (35 vs 24; P < .001), and PDSS scores (14 vs 11; P < .001). There was a negative correlation between PDSS and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (r = -0.23; P < .05). Even in periods of clinical stability, children with CF get less sleep than their peers due to more time in wakefulness during the night rather than less time spent in bed. Objective measures of sleep disturbance and subjective daytime sleepiness were related to disease severity. In contrast, parents of children with CF report high levels of sleep disturbance unrelated to disease severity.

Sleep Quality and Quality of Life in Patients With COPD

SESSION TITLE: COPD Comorbidities SESSION TYPE: Original Investigation Slide PRESENTED ON: Monday, October 24, 2016 at 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM PURPOSE: Sleep disorders are common in COPD patients, particularly coexisting Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). These patients also experience reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) caused by dyspnoea, systemic effects and co-morbidities. There is insufficient data assessing sleep quality and quality of life from our region. In this study, we explored quality of sleep in COPD patients without suspected OSA and the relationship between sleep quality and quality of life in these patients. METHODS: In this cross sectional descriptive study performed in a tertiary care hospital, 120 COPD patients completed questionnaires: Berlin questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and St. George Respiratory questionnaires (SGRQ). Patients with suspected OSA were excluded on the basis of result of Berlin questionnaire. Pulmonary function test was done to categorize the patients into 3 groups of mild, moderate and severe COPD based on GOLD guidelines. Student's t-test and ANOVA were used to assess differences in continuous variables between groups (different severities of COPD and patients sex). Association between categorical variables was determined by Chi-square test. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship between quality of life as dependent variable and other independent variables. RESULTS: Baseline mean values were: age 61.3 ± 11.2, 56% female, BMI 24.1 ± 4.5 kg/m2, FEV 1.59 ± 1.4 litres. 68.8% had poor sleep quality (PSQI 8.1 ± 6). Quality of sleep was significantly correlated with quality of life (p<0.001). Significant differences were found between the genders for total score and each of three subscores of SGRQ suggesting poorer quality of life in females. Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that severity of COPD, female gender and sleep quality accounted for the poor quality of life significantly (r2 = 0.11, 0.2, and 0.16, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Quality of sleep in patients with COPD is poor and worsens with disease progression. The low quality of sleep has an effect on the deterioration of their quality of life, especially in female patients. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The early identification of alteration of the quality of sleep by incorporating objective measures of sleep disturbances, especially by clinicians, could facilitate a preventive approach for COPD patients that could positively affect their HRQoL. Training, counseling, and advocacy programs can be developed to improve the patients' quality of sleep and quality of life. DISCLOSURE: The following authors have nothing to disclose: Krishna Sharma, Titiksha Choyal, Hemant Chaturvedi, Rudra Pandey No Product/Research Disclosure Information

An integrative review of subjective and objective measures of sleep disturbances in breast cancer survivors.

Sleep disturbances are recognized as a side effect of cancer treatment, affecting physiological and psychological functioning. Sleep disturbances can persist through treatment and survivorship, and are increasingly prevalent among breast cancer survivors (BCSs). The purpose of this review is to summarize current research on subjective and objective measures of sleep disturbances, the association between subjective and objective measures, and interventions used to manage sleep disturbances among BCSs after the completion of treatment. Articles published from 2003-2013 were retrieved using PubMed, Web of Science, and ScienceDirect. Key search terms included breast cancer, sleep actigraphy, and sleep disturbances. Articles assessing sleep subjectively and objectively in the post-treatment period were included. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria.

Actigraphic-measured sleep disturbance predicts increased positive symptoms in adolescents at ultra high-risk for psychosis: A longitudinal study

BackgroundSleep disturbance is prevalent among patients with psychosis, yet little is known about sleep health during the ultra high-risk (UHR) period. This study used actigraphy to evaluate sleep in healthy control (HC) and UHR adolescents to examine the relationship between sleep disturbance and psychosis symptoms at baseline and 12-month follow-up, as well as comparisons between objective and subjective measurements of sleep functioning in UHR youth. MethodThirty-six UHR and 31 HC youth participated in a baseline evaluation including 5 nights of actigraphy, subjective measurement of sleep health (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; PSQI), and clinical interviews. Clinical measures were repeated with UHR youth (N=23) at a 12-month follow-up. ResultsThe actigraphy data indicated that UHR youth displayed increased wake time after onset (WASO), increased movements during sleep, and decreased efficiency compared to HC, and several markers of sleep disturbance including decreased efficiency, increased WASO, number of awakenings, and increased movements were associated with symptomatology in the UHR group. Interestingly, there were associations between actigraph and self-report indices of sleep duration and efficiency (at the trend level) but not awakenings. Several objective measures of sleep disturbance and one self-reported measure (disrupted continuity) predicted the longitudinal course of symptoms over 12months in the UHR group. ConclusionsTaken together, the results suggest a potential role for sleep problems in the etiology of schizophrenia, and highlight sleep health as a possible target for prevention/intervention efforts. Additionally, actigraphy represents an inexpensive, sensitive measurement providing unique information not captured by self-report, and may be an informative adjunct to UHR assessments.

Sleep Habits in Mild Cognitive Impairment

We explored the relationship between sleep disturbances and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in community-dwelling seniors. Recent evidence suggests that sleep habits are differentially compromised in different subtypes of MCI, but the relationship between sleep disruption and MCI remains poorly understood. We gathered daily objective measures of sleep disturbance from 45 seniors, including 16 with MCI (mean age, 86.9±4.3 y), over a 6-month period. We also collected self-report measures of sleep disturbance. Although there were no differences between groups in any of our self-report measures, we found that amnestic MCI (aMCI) volunteers had less disturbed sleep than both nonamnestic MCI (naMCI) and cognitively intact volunteers, as measured objectively by movement in bed at night (F2,1078=4.30, P=0.05), wake after sleep onset (F2,1078=41.6, P<0.001), and number of times up at night (F2,1078=26.7, P<0.001). The groups did not differ in total sleep time. In addition, the aMCI group had less day-to-day variability in these measures than the intact and naMCI volunteers. In general, the naMCI volunteers showed a level of disturbed sleep that was intermediate to that of aMCI and intact volunteers. These differences in sleep disruption between aMCI and naMCI may be related to differences in the pathology underlying these MCI subtypes.

Dysfunctional sleep beliefs in Parkinson’s disease: Relationships with subjective and objective sleep

Disturbed sleep is common in Parkinson’s disease and has a detrimental impact on functioning and quality of life. While the progression of the disease contributes to the aetiology of sleep problems in Parkinson’s disease, it is unknown whether an individual’s beliefs and attitudes about sleep play a role. In this study we sought to investigate whether dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep could be related to subjective and objective measures of sleep disturbance in Parkinson’s disease. Ninety-three patients with Parkinson’s disease completed the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep 16 item questionnaire, which comprises four domains: Expectations, Worry/Helplessness, Consequences and Medication. Patients also completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire and Beck Depression Inventory-II. Patients wore actigraphy watches and completed sleep diaries for 2 consecutive weeks, recording measures of sleep disturbance including Sleep Onset and Offset, Wake After Sleep Onset, Sleep Efficiency, and Wake Bouts per hour. Greater dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes in the domains of Worry/Helplessness and Medication were associated with lower perceived sleep quality and greater depressive symptoms. However, no relationships were found between dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep and any objective actigraphic measure of sleep disturbance. These findings suggest that beliefs and attitudes about sleep in Parkinson’s disease are associated with mood disturbance, rather than objective measures of sleep. Thus it is possible that interventions targeting mood may lead to more accurate perceptions of sleep and improved quality of life in Parkinson’s disease patients.

Actigraphically-defined sleep disturbance in Parkinson’s disease is associated with differential aspects of cognitive functioning

The frequency of sleep disturbance and cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease has led to the suggestion that these processes might share common neural circuitry. This study aimed to identify the relationships between measures of cognitive functioning and an objective measure of sleep disturbance. Ninety-five patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease and 48 healthy controls underwent neurological and neuropsychological examination. They wore an actigraphy watch for 2weeks, from which a measure of nocturnal sleep efficiency was calculated. Multiple regression models showed that working memory and verbal memory consolidation were significantly associated with sleep efficiency, as well as education and age. By contrast, verbal fluency and attentional set-shifting were not associated with sleep efficiency, after accounting for age and education. These findings reveal that nocturnal sleep disturbance in Parkinson’s disease is associated with specific cognitive difficulties, rather than a global pattern of cognitive dysfunction. This may in part reflect common neural underpinnings.

A Longitudinal Study of Measures of Objective and Subjective Sleep Disturbance in Patients With Breast Cancer Before, During, and After Radiation Therapy

ContextSleep disturbance is a significant problem in oncology patients. ObjectivesTo examine how actigraphy and self-report ratings of sleep disturbance changed over the course of and after radiation therapy (RT); investigate whether specific patient, disease, and symptom characteristics predicted the initial levels and/or the characteristics of the trajectories of sleep disturbance; and compare predictors of subjective and objective sleep disturbance. MethodsPatients (n=73) completed self-report questionnaires that assessed sleep disturbance, fatigue, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and pain before the initiation of RT through four months after the completion of RT. Wrist actigraphy was used as the objective measure of sleep disturbance. Hierarchical linear modeling was used for data analyses. ResultsMean wake after sleep onset was 11.9% and mean total score on the General Sleep Disturbance Scale was 45. More than 85% of the patients had an abnormally high number of nighttime awakenings. Substantial interindividual variability was found for both objective and subjective measures of sleep disturbance. Body mass index predicted baseline levels of objective sleep disturbance. Comorbidity, evening fatigue, and depressive symptoms predicted baseline levels of subjective sleep disturbance, and depressive symptoms predicted the trajectory of subjective sleep disturbance. ConclusionDifferent variables predicted sleep disturbance using subjective and objective measures. The slightly elevated wake after sleep onset found may be an underestimation of the degree of sleep disturbance when it is evaluated in the context of the high number of nighttime awakenings and patient's perception of poor sleep quality and quantity.

Sleep-Wake Circadian Activity Rhythms and Fatigue in Family Caregivers of Oncology Patients

Little is known about the relationships between sleep/wake circadian activity rhythms and fatigue in family caregivers (FCs) of oncology patients. The objectives of this study were to describe values for nocturnal sleep/rest, daytime wake/activity, and circadian activity rhythm parameters measured using actigraphy and to evaluate the relationships between these subjective and objective measures of sleep disturbance and self-reported fatigue severity, in a sample of FCs of oncology patients. Family caregivers (n = 103) completed self-report measures for sleep disturbance (ie, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, General Sleep Disturbance Scale) and fatigue (Lee Fatigue Scale) and wore wrist actigraphs for 48 hours prior to beginning radiation therapy. Spearman rank correlations were calculated between variables. Approximately 40% to 60% of FCs experienced sleep disturbance depending on whether clinically significant cutoffs for the subjective or objective measures were used to calculate occurrence rates. In addition, these FCs reported moderate levels of fatigue. Only a limited number of significant correlations were found between the subjective and objective measures of sleep disturbance. Significant positive correlations were found between fatigue and subjective, but not objective measures of sleep disturbance. The amplitude of circadian activity rhythm was not related to any objective sleep measure but was correlated with self-report of longer sleep-onset latency. A significant percentage of FCs experience clinically meaningful disturbances in sleep-wake circadian activity rhythms. These disturbances occur primarily in sleep maintenance. Family caregivers need to be assessed, along with patients, for sleep disturbance, and appropriate interventions initiated for them and for the patient.

Sleep-Wake Circadian Activity Rhythm Parameters and Fatigue in Oncology Patients Before the Initiation of Radiation Therapy

Little is known about the relationships between sleep parameters and fatigue in patients at the initiation of radiation therapy (RT). The objectives of this study were to describe values for nocturnal sleep/rest, daytime wake/activity, and circadian activity rhythm parameters measured using actigraphy and to evaluate the relationships between these objective parameters and subjective ratings of sleep disturbance and fatigue severity, in a sample of patients at the initiation of RT. Patients (n = 185) with breast, prostate, lung, or brain cancer completed self-report measures for sleep disturbance (ie, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, General Sleep Disturbance Scale) and fatigue (Lee Fatigue Scale) and wore wrist actigraphs for a total of 48 hours prior to beginning RT. Actigraphy data were analyzed using the Cole-Kripke algorithm. Spearman rank correlations were calculated between variables. Approximately 30% to 50% of patients experienced sleep disturbance, depending on whether clinically significant cutoffs for the subjective or objective measures were used to calculate occurrence rates. In addition, these patients reported moderate levels of fatigue. Only a limited number of significant correlations were found between the subjective and objective measures of sleep disturbance. Significant positive correlations were found between the subjective, but not the objective measures of sleep disturbance and fatigue. A significant percentage of oncology patients experience significant disturbances in sleep-wake circadian activity rhythms at the initiation of RT. The disturbances occur in both sleep initiation and sleep maintenance. Patients need to be assessed at the initiation of RT for sleep disturbance, so appropriate treatment is initiated.

Differences in Sleep Disturbance and Fatigue Between Patients with Breast and Prostate Cancer at the Initiation of Radiation Therapy

Little is known about the occurrence and severity of sleep disturbance and fatigue between patients with common cancer diagnoses. Study purposes were to evaluate for differences in the occurrence rates of sleep disturbances and fatigue; evaluate for differences in the severity of sleep disturbance using both subjective and objective measures; and evaluate for differences in the severity of self-reported fatigue in patients with breast and prostate cancer at the initiation of radiation therapy (RT). Patients with breast (n=78) and prostate (n=82) cancer were evaluated before the initiation of RT using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, General Sleep Disturbance Scale, Lee Fatigue Scale, and wrist actigraphy. Differences in sleep disturbance and fatigue between groups were evaluated using independent sample t-tests and Chi-square analyses. Occurrence rates for sleep disturbance (P<0.0001) and fatigue (P=0.03) were significantly higher in patients with breast compared with prostate cancer. Patients with breast cancer self-reported significantly higher levels of sleep disturbance (P=0.008) and fatigue (P=0.005) than patients with prostate cancer. However, using actigraphy, patients with prostate cancer had poorer sleep efficiency (P=0.02) than patients with breast cancer. Based on self-report, patients with breast cancer experience sleep disturbance more frequently and with greater severity than patients with prostate cancer. Objective measures of sleep disturbance suggest that prostate cancer patients have more severe sleep disturbance than breast cancer patients. All thepatients experienced poor sleep quality and fatigue, which suggests that oncology patients need to be assessed for these symptoms.

The Effects of Pain, Gender, and Age on Sleep/Wake and Circadian Rhythm Parameters in Oncology Patients at the Initiation of Radiation Therapy

To date, no studies have evaluated for differences in subjective and objective measures of sleep disturbance in oncology outpatients with and without pain. This descriptive study, recruited 182 patients from 2 radiation therapy (RT) departments at the time of the patient's simulation visit. Approximately 38% of the sample reported moderate to severe pain (ie, worst pain intensity of 6.2 ± 2.4). After controlling for age, patients in pain reported worse sleep quality and more sleep disturbance using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. With the General Sleep Disturbance Scale, patients in pain reported poorer sleep quality, increased use of sleep medications, and more daytime sleepiness. In addition using an objective measure of sleep disturbance (ie, actigraphy), significant gender × pain interactions were found for sleep onset latency, percentage of time awake at night, wake duration, total sleep time, and sleep efficiency. While no differences were found in female patients, males in pain had worse scores than males without pain. Findings from this study suggest that pain and sleep disturbance are prevalent in oncology outpatients and that a patient's age and gender need to be considered in any evaluation of the relationship between pain and sleep. The effects of pain on subjective and objective sleep parameters appear to be influenced by both patients' age and gender.

The Relationship Between Objectively Measured Sleep Disturbance and Dementia Family Caregiver Distress and Burden

The aim of this study was to determine whether distress and burden were associated with objective measures of sleep disturbance in dementia caregivers. Using wrist actigraphy, sleep was measured in 60 female, Caucasian dementia family caregivers (mean age, 64.8 years). Caregivers completed questionnaires about demographics, health, depression, duration of caregiving and care recipient nighttime behavior. Care recipients completed a mental status exam. We investigated whether these measures were associated with actigraphic sleep parameters. Greater depressive symptoms among caregivers were associated with poorer sleep efficiency. Older caregiver age and poorer self-rated health were associated with longer time in bed. Sleep disturbance, which is common among dementia caregivers, might be an important index of caregiver distress (ie, depression) but might not be associated with burden (based on the care recipient's general cognitive impairment or nighttime awakenings.).

Use of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors and Sleep Disturbances in Community‐Dwelling Older Women

To determine the association between use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and objective measures of sleep disturbances in older community-dwelling women, including women without evidence of depression. Cross-sectional study. Four U.S. clinical centers. Two thousand eight hundred fifty-three women aged 71 and older (2,630 nonusers of antidepressants and 223 taking SSRIs alone, not in combination with other antidepressants). Medication use, assessed using an interviewer-administered questionnaire with verification of use from medication containers and computerized dictionary used to categorize type of medication; evidence of depression assessed using self-report or a score of 6 or higher on the Geriatric Depression Scale; and sleep parameters measured using a wrist actigraph, with data collected for an average of four consecutive 24-hour periods. Of the overall cohort of 2,853 women and of 2,337 women without evidence of depression, sleep disturbances were more common in women taking SSRIs than in those not taking antidepressants. After excluding women with evidence of depression and adjusting for multiple potential confounders, women taking SSRIs were more likely to have a sleep duration of 5 hours or less (multivariate odds ratio (MOR)=2.15, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.04-4.47), sleep efficiency less than 70% (MOR=2.37, 95% CI=1.32-4.25), sleep latency of 1 hour or more (MOR=3.99, 95% CI=2.29-6.96) and eight or more long wake episodes (MOR=1.75, 95% CI=0.99-3.10). SSRI use by older women, including those without evidence of depression, is associated with a greater likelihood of sleep disturbances, including poorer sleep efficiency, longer sleep latency, and sleep fragmentation, manifested by multiple long wake episodes. These results add to the uncertainty regarding risks and benefits of SSRI use in aged populations.

Sleep Disturbances in Patients with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Subjective reports of sleep disturbance indicate that 70-91% of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have difficulty falling or staying asleep. Nightmares are reported by 19-71% of patients, depending on the severity of their PTSD and their exposure to physical aggression. Objective measures of sleep disturbance are inconsistent, with some studies that used these measures indicating poor sleep and others finding no differences compared with non-PTSD controls. Future research in this area may benefit from examining measures of instability in the microstructure of sleep. Additionally, recent findings suggest that sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and sleep movement disorders are more common in patients with PTSD than in the general population and that these disorders may contribute to the brief awakenings, insomnia and daytime fatigue in patients with PTSD. Overall, sleep problems have an impact on the development and symptom severity of PTSD and on the quality of life and functioning of patients. In terms of treatments, SSRIs are commonly used to treat PTSD, and evidence suggests that they have a small but significant positive effect on sleep disruption. Studies of serotonin-potentiating non-SSRIs suggest that nefazodone and trazodone lead to significant reductions in insomnia and nightmares, whereas cyproheptadine may exacerbate sleep problems in patients with PTSD. Prazosin, a centrally acting alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, has led to large reductions in nightmares and insomnia in small studies of patients with PTSD. Augmentation of SSRIs with olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic, may be effective for treatment-resistant nightmares and insomnia, although adverse effects can be significant. Additional medications, including zolpidem, buspirone, gabapentin and mirtazapine, have been found to improve sleep in patients with PTSD. Large randomised, placebo-controlled trials are needed to confirm the above findings. In contrast, evidence suggests that benzodiazepines, TCAs and MAOIs are not useful for the treatment of PTSD-related sleep disorders, and their adverse effect profiles make further studies unlikely. Cognitive behavioural interventions for sleep disruption in patients with PTSD include strategies targeting insomnia and imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) for nightmares. One large randomised controlled trial of group IRT demonstrated significant reductions in nightmares and insomnia. Similarly, uncontrolled studies combining IRT and insomnia strategies have demonstrated good outcomes. Uncontrolled studies of continuous positive airway pressure for SDB in patients with PTSD show that this treatment led to significant decreases in nightmares, insomnia and PTSD symptoms. Controlled studies are needed to confirm these promising findings.