Sleep and Schizophrenia

Lee, Jin Seong

Abstract

Schizophrenia is a chronic, currently incurable, and devastating syndrome. Although sleep disturbances are not primary symptoms of schizophrenia, they are important aspects of schizophrenia. Difficulties initiating or maintaining sleep are frequently encountered in patients with schizophrenia. Many schizophrenics report low subjective sleep quality. Measured by polysomnography, increased sleep latency as well as reduced total sleep time, sleep efficiency, slow wave sleep, and rapid eye movement sleep latency (REM latency), are found in most patients with schizophrenia and appear to be an important aspect of the pathophysiology of this disorder. Some literatures suggest that worsening sleep quality precedes schizophrenic exacerbations. Co-morbid sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and restless legs syndrome (RLS), and sleep-disrupting behaviors associated with schizophrenia may lead to sleep disturbances. Clinicians should screen the patient with sleep complaints for primary sleep disorders like OSA and RLS, and carefully evaluate sleep hygiene behaviors of all patients with schizophrenia who complain of sleep disturbances.