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Patients' beliefs about their sleep problems
Abstract   Peer reviewed

Patients' beliefs about their sleep problems

T Skinner, J Phang, L McNeil, Tamara De Regt, A Mellor, M O'Laithe, P Eastwood, S Whitworth, A Holt, A Nienaber, …
Sleep and Biological Rhythms, Vol.8, pp.A54-A55
Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australian Sleep Association and Australian Sleep Technologists Association: Sleep Down Under 2010 - Biodiversity of Sleep, 22nd (Christchurch, New Zealand, 21-Oct-2010–23-Oct-2010)
2010
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-8425.2010.00457_4.x
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https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1479-8425.2010.00457_4.xView
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Abstract

Medical Biochemistry and Metabolomics Neurosciences Psychology
Introduction: Continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) reduces OSA symptoms and associated health risks, however rates of treatment use can be low. One reason may be the beliefs that patients hold about what causes their sleep problems. This study assessed patients' beliefs about their illness and their relationship to sleep diffi culties and disease severity in patients attending a sleep clinic for a diagnostic sleep study.Methods: A prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Participants were recruited from a local sleep clinic, where they completed questionnaires at their diagnostic overnight sleep study Questionnaires included the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale and the Illness Perceptions Ques-tionnaire - Revised (subscales assessed perceived causes, illness severity, coherence and consequences).Results: To date, 517 participants have completed questionnaires at the overnight study. Analysis of these data indicates three perceived causal models for the participants' sleep problems: psychological causes (stress, overworking); poor health habits (smoking, drinking); and, external causes (bad luck, pollution). The most common causal attribu-tion was that psychological issues were causing their sleep apnoea: the primary attribution of 54% of participants. Those making psychological causal attributions were more depressed (r = .59) more anxious (r = .38) more stressed (r = .58) and more fatigued (r = .39). Participants also indentifi ed symptoms they associated with their sleep problems, which are not commonly linked to OSA, such as stiff joints (31%), loss of strength (36%), and weight gain (33%). Participants felt their 'sleep problems were serious' (60% agreeing) and that they had 'a major impact on their life' (70% agreeing). In addition, 1 in 4 felt their 'sleep problems were a mystery' to them (25%) and that their 'sleep problems did not make sense' to them (22%).Discussion: Despite being a physical condition, many patients appear to believe that stress and worry (psychological factors) caused their sleep problems and were unclear about their condition. The extent to which such beliefs impact on CPAP use needs exploring.

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