Sleep and psychiatry
118 important questions on Sleep and psychiatry
What are the main psychiatric disorders discussed in this chapter?
- Eating disorders: Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder
- Personality disorders: Primarily borderline personality disorder
- Developmental disorders: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Asperger syndrome
What is the relationship between sleep disorders and anxiety disorders?
- Common risk genes and neurotransmitters (e.g., GABA, acetylcholine)
- Shared psychological mechanisms like hyperarousal and rumination
- Sleep disorders can lead to anxiety and vice versa.
How are eating disorders defined and what are their main characteristics?
- Altered food consumption behavior
- Excessive preoccupation with body weight and shape
- Associated health impairments
- Examples include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder
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What are core symptoms of affective disorders, and how are they manifested?
- Changes in mood
- Alterations in psychomotor drive
- Changes in interest
- Manifest as episodes of depression and mania or hypomania
How does sleep impact emotion regulation in individuals with anxiety disorders?
- Emotional distress
- Difficulties in emotional control
- Impaired fear conditioning and extinction.
What sleep disturbances are commonly associated with eating disorders?
- Insomnia symptoms
- Increased sleep onset latency
- Increased wake time after sleep onset
- Possible association with comorbid depression
What is the relationship between sleep disorders and schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSDs)?
- Insomnia and nightmares are common in patients with SSDs.
- Over half of the patients experience insomnia.
- Insomnia can contribute to psychotic symptoms like delusions and hallucinations.
- CBT for sleep disorders shows promising results in improving both sleep and psychotic symptoms.
What relationships exist between affective disorders and sleep disorders?
- High co-morbidity rates with insomnia, hypersomnia,
- Unstable sleep-wake rhythm
- Insomnia identified as an independent risk factor for new depression onset.
What role does insomnia play in the development of anxiety disorders?
- Contributes to de novo onset
- Presence of anxiety increases insomnia risk
- Approximately 45% prevalence of insomnia complaints.
What is sexsomnia and its implications in legal cases?
- Automatic sexual behavior during sleep
- Individuals usually do not recall episodes
- It can complicate legal cases of sexual assault
- Possible acquittal due to lack of consciousness
What are the main features of substance use disorders?
- Involvement of substances like alcohol, opioids, cannabinoids, cocaine, stimulants, hallucinogens, and/or tobacco/nicotine.
- Distinct stages: single use, intoxication, harmful use, dependence, withdrawal, relapse.
- Impact on sleep and wakefulness is common.
How prevalent are sleep disorders in patients with non-affective psychosis?
- More than half of patients with non-affective psychosis have insomnia.
- Approximately half report experiencing regular nightmares.
- Many patients have multiple co-occurring sleep disorders.
What does the current guideline suggest for treating insomnia in affected individuals?
- Use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
- Considered first-line treatment
- Applies even when insomnia is comorbid with other mental disorders.
Which treatment is recommended for both insomnia and anxiety disorders?
- Effective in addressing underlying issues
- Can improve sleep quality
- Reduces anxiety symptoms.
What are the predominant sleep issues identified in borderline personality disorder?
- Insomnia
- Circadian rhythm sleep disorders
- Increased REM disinhibition
- Altered sleep architecture
What is the relationship between sleep disturbances and mental disorders according to Tiina Paunio's overview?
- Symptoms of disturbed sleep are common in mental disorders.
- The relationship between sleep traits and psychopathology is complex and not well understood.
- Individual responses vary, making tailored treatment essential.
- Sleep characteristics are key in managing mental disorders.
How do substance use and sleep disorders interact?
- Sleep disorder symptoms may lead to increased substance use as self-medication.
- Specific substances can cause or worsen sleep disorders.
- Screening for sleep disorders can enhance care for substance use disorders.
What are the notable findings related to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for sleep disorders in psychosis?
- CBT adapted for psychosis can improve sleep quality.
- Patients show high interest in sleep treatments.
- Small improvements in paranoia and hallucinations observed.
- Moderate improvements in paranoia are linked to treating nightmares.
Describe the significance of sleep-related interventions in affective disorders.
- Provide anti-depressant effects
- Include methods like therapeutic sleep deprivation and chronotherapy
- Offer insights into the pathogenesis of affective disorders.
What neurotransmitters are involved in sleep and anxiety disorders?
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the main inhibitory neurotransmitter
- Acetylcholine
- Dopamine, linked to emotional control.
What is the relationship between ADHD and sleep phase delay syndrome?
- Prevalence of >70% for sleep phase delay syndrome
- Debate on causality: disorder, consequence, or common aetiology
- Sleep disturbances include insomnia symptoms
What are the learning objectives outlined in the overview regarding sleep and mental health?
- Understand the link between sleep and mental health.
- Recognize individual vulnerability to disrupted sleep effects.
- Acknowledge the variety of sleep symptoms and their fluctuations.
- Comprehend the importance of treating sleep disorders with mental comorbidities.
What is the prevalence of alcohol use in the USA and Europe?
- 65% of the general US population consumes alcohol.
- 5% report abuse, 4% report dependence.
- Similar rates appear in Europe, with 32.5% globally being current drinkers.
What are the characteristics of schizophrenia as a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD)?
- Presence of psychotic symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech).
- Lifetime prevalence rate of 4 in every 1,000 people.
- Ranked 15th in global burden of disease due to its severity.
What are common symptoms in unipolar depression?
- Depressed mood
- Anhedonia
- Loss of energy
- Disturbed sleep
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
- Recurrent thoughts of death.
How does rapid eye movement (REM) sleep relate to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)?
- Increased arousal during REM
- Maintenance of symptoms
- Disrupted emotion regulation processes.
Describe the characteristics of night eating syndrome (NES).
- More than 25% of daily food intake occurring at night
- Irresistible eating urges after sleep onset
- Often results in excessive carbohydrate intake
- High comorbidity with binge eating disorder
How does insufficient sleep impact mental health?
- Insufficient sleep can impair psychological functioning.
- Long-term effects include increased risk of mental diseases.
- Experimental studies demonstrate sleep deprivation leads to mood issues, anxiety, and emotional instability.
- Variability in responses exists based on individual factors.
How does acute alcohol intake affect sleep?
- Decreased sleep latency and increased NREM sleep during the first half of the night.
- Alcohol acts as an over-the-counter sleep aid.
- Disruptions occur in the second half of the night and REM sleep.
What role does sleep disruption play in psychotic experiences?
- A historical problem for individuals with psychosis.
- Linked to the emergence of psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions.
- A focus area for treatment, as targeting sleep issues can help manage psychosis complexity.
How is mania characterized in bipolar disorder?
- Distinctly elevated mood
- Accompanied by grandiosity
- Distractibility
- Elevated psychomotor drive
- Reduced sleep need that lasts at least 1 week.
What are the key symptoms of anxiety disorders?
- Excessive, inappropriate anxiety
- Symptoms like panic attacks
- Fear in contexts like social situations or defined stimuli.
How does sleep affect individuals with borderline personality disorder according to studies?
- Non-recovered patients have worse sleep
- Greater maladaptive sleep-related cognitions
- Psychotherapy can improve sleep onset latency and arousals
What key hormones involved in food intake are dysregulated in eating disorders?
- Melatonin
- Orexin
- Ghrelin
- Leptin
- Obestatin
What findings have sleep laboratory studies shown regarding sleep deprivation?
- Sleep deprivation leads to negative psychological consequences.
- Short-term effects vary, but long-term can result in acute psychosis.
- Symptoms include sleepiness, fatigue, anxiety, and mood disturbances.
- Distorted perception and complex symptoms emerge after extended sleep loss.
What are the chronic effects of alcohol use on sleep?
- Diminished GABAergic inhibition and altered receptor structures.
- Increased sleep onset latency and disrupted sleep-wake rhythm.
- Higher nocturnal wakefulness and daytime sleepiness.
What is the significance of sleep disorder discussions in clinical settings for patients with psychosis?
- Only half of patients’ sleep disorders are discussed with clinicians.
- Clinicians often rely on informal assessments rather than validated tools.
- Increased awareness of sleep disorders can lead to more effective interventions.
What genetic insights have been discovered about affective disorders?
- Higher heritability for bipolar disorder (75%) than for unipolar depression (37%)
- Shared genetic influences with sleep traits
- Potential for sleep traits to guide treatment and follow-up.
What is the significance of sleep for emotion control in anxiety disorders?
- Regulating neurotransmitter function
- Affecting amygdala activity
- Facilitating processes like fear conditioning and extinction.
What are the effects of chronically insufficient sleep on mental health according to epidemiological studies?
- Chronic insomnia significantly increases risks for depression and anxiety.
- Insomnia symptoms like trouble initiating sleep are critical risk factors.
- Poor sleep quality is linked to life dissatisfaction and mood regulation.
- Treatment of insomnia may prevent or alleviate comorbid mental disorders.
What is the prevalence of sleep disturbances in patients with alcohol-use disorders?
- Increased prevalence of sleep disturbances, with over 50% reporting insomnia.
- Higher rates of sleep-disordered breathing, PLMS, and parasomnia.
- Insomnia correlates with psychosocial issues and mental disorders.
How are sleep disorders typically assessed among patients with psychosis?
- Many clinicians do not routinely conduct sleep assessments.
- Discussions about sleep often occur informally.
- This may result in missed opportunities for effective treatment.
What are common sleep disturbances in mood disorders?
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- Abnormal circadian rhythms
- High prevalence of sleep complaints among patients
What is the relationship between sleep disorders and anxiety disorders?
- Sleep disorders can lead to anxiety disorders.
- Anxiety disorders increase the risk for sleep disorders.
- Shared mechanisms include neurotransmitters and hyperarousal.
What types of psychiatric disorders are discussed in this chapter?
- Eating disorders
- Personality disorders
- Developmental disorders
- Their relationship with sleep disorders is less researched compared to other disorders.
What role does chronotype play in mental health?
- Chronotype affects optimal sleep timing and regulates well-being.
- Evening chronotypes are associated with increased health risks and poor mental health.
- Changes in chronotype occur with age but remain relatively stable.
- Shifting sleep timing can improve mood and performance.
What treatments are recommended for insomnia in patients with alcohol-use disorders?
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I).
- Behavioral therapies have shown positive effects.
- Gabapentin and quetiapine may help but are not generally recommended for insomnia.
What has historically been viewed as the cause of sleep disruption in schizophrenia?
- Secondary consequence of psychosis
- An epiphenomenon
- Ongoing research challenges this perspective
What are the core symptoms associated with affective disorders?
- Changes in mood
- Changes in psychomotor drive
- Changes in interest
- Episodes of depression and mania or hypomania
What common neurotransmitters are involved in both sleep and anxiety disorders?
- Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
- Acetylcholine
- Dopamine
Which three eating disorders are identified as the most common?
- Anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia nervosa
- Binge eating disorder
How does mistimed light affect circadian rhythms?
- Misalignment of light with circadian phase disrupts sleep.
- Factors include shift work, travel across time zones, and social jet lag.
- These disruptions link to negative health outcomes.
- Psychological symptoms include mood disturbances and anxiety.
How does alcohol use affect sleep-disordered breathing?
- Alcohol can relax upper airway muscles, causing obstruction and worsening snoring/SDB.
- Recommendations for treatment are similar to SDB without substance use.
- Cessation can improve SDB significantly.
What is a significant finding regarding insomnia in relation to psychotic symptoms?
- Insomnia is causally related to psychotic symptoms
- Over half of patients with non-affective psychosis experience insomnia
- Sleep disorders can exacerbate psychotic experiences
How prevalent are major depression and bipolar disorder among adults in Europe?
- Major depression: 6.9%
- Bipolar disorder: 0.9%
What is the impact of insomnia on anxiety disorders?
- Risk factor for the emergence of anxiety disorders.
- Complication affecting existing anxiety disorders.
How do eating disorders relate to circadian rhythm sleep disorders?
- Circadian rhythm sleep disorders
- Altered hormone secretion patterns
- Unclear causal relationships with abnormal eating behavior
What findings are associated with shift work and mental health?
- Shift work commonly results in sleep problems and mental health issues.
- Women are particularly affected, with increased risk of depression.
- Genetic factors influence tolerance to shift work.
- Irregular schedules pose additional challenges.
What is the impact of cannabis on sleep?
- THC decreases sleep latency for many but can increase it at high doses.
- Sedative effects may persist into the following day, increasing daytime sleepiness.
- Withdrawal often brings anxiety, restlessness, vivid dreams, and insomnia.
How are cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) adaptations relevant to psychosis?
- Optimize treatment for insomnia and nightmares
- Are tested in pilot randomized controlled trials
- Show promising effects on sleep and psychotic symptoms
What sleep disturbances are commonly associated with affective disorders?
- Insomnia
- Hypersomnia
- Unstable sleep-wake rhythm
- Delayed sleep phase
What role does sleep play in emotion regulation?
- Emotion regulation
- Emotional learning, including fear conditioning and extinction
What characterizes borderline personality disorder?
- Affective instability
- Impulsivity
- Identity issues
- Self-injury and interpersonal problems
What are the frequently observed symptoms of disturbed sleep in individuals with mental disorders?
- insomnia
- hypersomnia
- instability of the sleep-wake rhythm
- frequent nightmares
How are insomnia and cannabinoid-use disorders related?
- Insomnia as a relapse risk factor for cannabis users.
- Approximately 65% report poor sleep as a primary reason for relapse.
- Treatment recommendations for insomnia in these cases are generally lacking.
What is the prevalence of insomnia among non-affective psychosis patients?
- Non-affective psychosis
- Approximately 50% also experience regular nightmares
- Co-occurrence of sleep disorders is common
What role does insomnia play in the onset of depression?
- De novo onset of depression
- Persistence after a depressive episode, predicting relapse
How prevalent are sleep difficulties in older adults with anxiety disorders?
- 45% report sleep difficulties.
- Sleep disorders correlated with anxiety disorders persist across age groups.
What sleep disturbances are associated with borderline personality disorder?
- Insomnia
- Circadian rhythm sleep disorders
- REM sleep disinhibition
How does sleep insufficiency impact psychological functioning?
- Impaired psychological functioning
- Increased risk of mental diseases
- Negative effects on mood and emotional health
What is known about opioid-induced effects on sleep?
- Binding to specific receptors which influence analgesia and sedation.
- Variations in effects depending on receptor class and agonist/antagonist status.
- Chronic use can lead to significant alterations in sleep patterns.
What are the common sleep disorders in patients with schizophrenia?
- Insomnia
- Nightmares
- Potentially increased prevalence of sleep apnea
What is the recommended treatment for insomnia in patients with mood disorders?
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I)
- Effective even when comorbid with other mental disorders
What type of sleep disturbances are common in PTSD?
- Fragmented rapid eye movement (REM) sleep
- Increased arousal during REM sleep
What short-term effects does sleep deprivation have on psychological functions?
- feelings of sleepiness
- fatigue
- lowered mood
- increased anxiety
What are the distinct stages of substance use disorders (SUD)?
- Single use
- Intoxication
- Harmful patterns
- Dependence
- Withdrawal
- Relapse
What effect do CBT interventions have on psychotic symptoms?
- Small improvements in paranoia
- Moderate improvements in paranoia when treating nightmares
- Enhanced overall sleep quality
How are sleep and affective disorders interrelated according to recent findings?
- Are significantly common in affective disorders
- Can be an early symptom
- Influence pathogenesis of both syndromes
How does cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) function in treating anxiety disorders?
- Insomnia
- Anxiety disorders
What is the prevalence of night eating syndrome (NES)?
- 3% in young students
- High comorbidity with binge eating disorder (33%)
What symptoms can emerge from extended total sleep loss?
- Distorted perception
- Increased anxiety
- Possible hallucinations
- Acute psychosis symptoms
How does substance use relate to sleep disorders?
- Increased substance use as self-medication for sleep disorders
- Development of dependence or relapse risk
- Substance effects can worsen existing sleep disorders
What is one notable statistic about patient uptake of sleep therapy?
- High uptake rate
- High satisfaction with sleep therapy outcomes
- Increased completion of therapy sessions
What characterizes bipolar disorder compared to unipolar depression?
- Recurrent episodes of mania and depression
- More severe depressive episodes
- Higher risk for suicide
What symptoms define anxiety disorders?
- Excessive and inappropriate anxiety
- Fear of future situations
- Interaction of fear with avoidance behaviors
How does attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) relate to sleep disorders?
- Delayed sleep phase syndrome
- Prevalence of sleep disturbances >70%
- Uncertainty regarding whether sleep issues are a cause or symptom
What is the impact of chronic insomnia on mental health?
- Increased risk of depression and anxiety
- Aggravation of comorbid mental disorders
- Potential for psychotic symptoms
What is the prevalence of alcohol consumption in the general US population?
- 65% report alcohol use
- 5% report abuse
- 4% report dependence
How does schizophrenia rank in global disease burden?
- Ranked 15th in global burden of disease
- Noted for high severity and persistence
- Important for research and treatment focus
What is the prevalence of insomnia disorder in patients with major depression?
- 45% in patients with major depressive disorder
- 24% in patients with bipolar disorder
Why is REM sleep important for emotional experiences?
- Strengthen memory of emotional events
- Decrease emotional arousal from these events
What are common sleep disturbances found in children with Asperger syndrome?
- Disturbances of sleep continuity
- High prevalence over 50%
What factors contribute to individual vulnerability to sleep disruption?
- Age
- Gender
- Genetic vulnerability
- Lifestyle
How does acute alcohol intake affect sleep?
- Decreased sleep latency
- Increased NREM sleep during initial night hours
- Disruption in the second half of the night
- REM sleep disorganization
How does psychosis relate to the continuum of psychotic experiences?
- Varying levels of severity
- Widespread occurrence in the general population
- No clear distinction between clinical and non-clinical cases
How does REM sleep in patients with depression differ from healthy individuals?
- Shortened REM sleep latency
- Increased total time in REM sleep
- Increased REM sleep density
What are some common types of anxiety disorders?
- Agoraphobia
- Panic disorder
- Social phobia
- Specific phobias
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
How does the circadian clock influence sleep and eating behaviors?
- Sleep patterns
- Food intake
- Links circadian rhythm with eating disorders
How can treatment of sleep disorders affect comorbid mental disorders?
- Ameliorates symptoms of comorbid mental disorders
- Provides opportunities for individualized therapies
- Targets specific sleep traits
What are common sleep disturbances in patients with alcohol-use disorders?
- Insomnia in over 50%
- Increased sleep-disordered breathing
- Higher rates of PLMS
- Presence of parasomnia
Why is sleep assessment frequently overlooked in clinical settings for psychosis?
- Complexity of symptoms presented
- Only 20% routinely carry out sleep assessments
- Reliance on informal questioning rather than validated assessments
What is the relationship between sleep traits and the genetic risk for affective disorders?
- Major depression and insomnia (rg 0.59)
- Bipolar disorder with longer sleep duration (rg 0.2)
- Unipolar disorder correlates with short sleep (rg -0.28)
How does fear conditioning relate to anxiety disorders?
- An arbitrary stimulus becomes associated with fear.
- It reflects symptoms seen in anxiety disorders.
What role does sleep play in the recovery from borderline personality disorder?
- Non-recovered patients show worse sleep quality
- Higher maladaptive sleep-related cognitions
What is the role of chronotype in individual sleep patterns?
- Optimal timing of sleep
- Individual's activity levels
- Subjective well-being
How does insomnia affect alcohol-use disorder patients?
- Severe psychosocial/workplace conflicts
- Higher prevalence of mental disorders
- Increased suicidal ideation risk
- Persistence of sleep issues correlates with relapse
What should be increased in psychiatric services related to sleep disruption?
- Awareness of sleep disruption and its implications
- Training opportunities for clinicians
- Capacity to conduct thorough sleep assessments
What findings were reported regarding sleep architecture in borderline personality disorder?
- Increased sleep onset latency
- Reduced total sleep time
- Reduced sleep efficiency and altered REM latency
What are the effects of mistimed light on circadian rhythm?
- Disruption of the circadian processes
- Desynchronization of biological rhythms
- Negative impact on mood regulation
What are the effects of cannabis on sleep?
- Decreased sleep latency (acute use)
- Possible increased latency at high doses
- Daytime sleepiness due to slow elimination
- Withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and insomnia
How does shift work impact mental health?
- Increased risk of depression
- Issues with performance
- Fatigue and poor sleep quality
What is the prevalence of opioid use in the European population?
- 0.4% high-risk opioid use among adults
- 15.5 million globally dependent on opioids
- Heroin remains the most common opioid
What are the psychological symptoms associated with jet lag?
- Dysphoric mood
- Elevated anxiety
- Transient sleep problems
How significant is the relationship between sleep traits and mental disorders?
- Mutual influence on brain functions
- Variability according to environmental influences
- Complexity in the interplay between mental processes
What is the effect of travel across time zones on circadian rhythms?
- Adaptation to new photic rhythms
- Sleep problems and daytime fatigue
- Potential mood episodes in mood disorders
How does the timing of sleep relate to health outcomes?
- Decreased well-being
- Shorter lifespan
- Increased incidence of mental disorders
What interventions have shown promise for insomnia treatment?
- Digital cognitive behavioral therapy
- Online sleep education
- Personalized treatment protocols
What biological factors affect individual responses to sleep loss?
- Genetics
- Age
- Diurnal preference
- Baseline mood
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