Impact of bipolar disorder on sleep quality

Abstract

Objective: To investigate and compare the quality of sleep between patients with Bipolar Affective Disorder (BPAD) and individuals without this diagnosis, as well as identify differences in the prevalence and severity of sleep disorders between them. Methods: A descriptive case-control study involving 32 participants, selected by convenience among attendees of a psychiatric clinic located in western Paraná, and divided into two groups (16 patients with BPAD and 16 controls), who were later asked to fill in questionnaires such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-BR), the Sleep Diary and other mood assessment tools. Results: Despite the more frequent use of psychiatric drugs and sedatives between patients with BPAD, they had significantly higher PSQI scores, as well as accentuated sleep fragmentation, greater difficulty in maintaining regular rest schedules, higher prevalence of daytime sleepiness and significant impairment of daily activities. Conclusion:The data revealed significantly more compromised sleep quality among individuals with BPAD, even during euthymia, highlighting the importance of addressing this factor within the disorder. However, due to limitations such as self-report bias, and the composition and size of the sample, which restrict the generalizability of the results, further research that overcome these restrictions and explores different areas are required.