Sleep and quality of life in schizophrenia

Abstract

Patients with schizophrenia have severe and persistent sleep disturbance. Multiple mechanisms contribute to poor sleep in patients with schizophrenia, including high brain dopamine levels, high anxiety, and medication side effects. Persons with psychoses generally rate their QOL worse than both the general population and physically ill patients. Although patients with schizophrenia can self-rate their QOL, the most complete picture of QOL includes assessment by family members and professionals. Negative symptoms, depressed mood, anxiety, medication side effects, and stigma correlate with low QOL in patients with schizophrenia. Positive mood, high self esteem, good social support, a sense of personal control and empowerment, and an extroverted, agreeable personality promote QOL. Sleep deprivation may foster poor functioning and high levels of thought disorder, hostility, and excitement. Improving sleep in patients with schizophrenia is likely to improve their psychiatric symptoms. © 2008 Humana Press, Totowa, NJ.