Sleep Disorder and Psychobiological Symptomatology in Male Psychiatric Outpatients and Male Nonpatients

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Abstract
Sleep disturbance was studied in relation to psychiatric and physical symptoms for 214 male psychiatric outpatients and 248 male nonpatients. Our self-report instrument required that subjects describe the frequency of symptoms precisely on a five-point scale from “every day” to “not at all.” Percentages are based on the numbers of subjects reporting a symptom as occurring “every day” or “several times a week.” More patients reported sleep disturbance symptoms (75%) than nonpatients (25%) (P < 0.001). Sleep loss symptoms were reported by 63% of patients and 20% of nonpatients. Twelve percent of patients and 6% of nonpatients reported trouble with excessive sleep problems. Sleep disturbance was not strongly related to specific diagnoses. Fewer schizophrenics (21%) than other patients (50%) reported trouble “falling asleep” (P < 0.02). Finally, for both patients and controls, disturbed sleepers reported more psychiatric and physical symptoms than undisturbed sleepers (P < 0.001). It is suggested that sleep disturbance might be a useful clinical clue to previously unsuspected psychiatric and physical illness.

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