Sleep profiles of different psychiatric traits

Abstract

Disturbed sleep comes in many forms. While the key role of sleep in mental health is undisputed, our understanding of the type of sleeping problems that manifest in the early stages of psychiatric disorders is limited. A sample without psychiatric diagnoses (N = 440, 341 women, 97 men, 2 non-binaries; Mage = 32.1, SD = 9.4, range 18–77) underwent a comprehensive assessment, evaluating eight sleep features and 13 questionnaires on common psychiatric complaints. Results revealed that traits of affect disorders, generalized anxiety, and ADHD had the worst sleep profiles, while autism disorder, eating disorder, and impulsivity traits showed milder sleep issues. Mania was the only trait associated with an overall better sleep profile. Across traits, insomnia and fatigue dominated and sleep variability was least prominent. These findings provide support for both transdiagnostic and disorder-specific targets for prevention and treatment.