The prevalence and risk factors of sleep disturbances among mental health patients following hospital discharge

TL;DR

This study finds that most mental health patients experience sleep problems after being discharged from the hospital and identifies factors like anxiety and wellbeing that contribute to these issues.

Contribution

The study is novel in focusing on sleep disturbances during the critical post-discharge transition period in psychiatric care.

Findings

79.6% of patients preparing for discharge reported sleep disturbances.

Anxiety and poor wellbeing were strongly associated with sleep issues (p < 0.001).

Primary mental health diagnoses and relationship status were significant risk factors for sleep disturbances.

Abstract

Sleep disturbances significantly impact psychological wellbeing, particularly during the critical transition when patients are discharged from psychiatric units. Despite extensive research on sleep and mental health, limited attention has been given to this transitional period.

This study examined the prevalence and risk factors of sleep disturbances among patients preparing for discharge from psychiatric units in Alberta, Canada.

This cross-sectional epidemiological study involved face-to-face interviews with eligible patients, followed by an online survey assessing sleep issues using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Additional data on demographics, clinical information, and responses to the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) were also collected.

Of the 1,437 patients approached, 1,106 participated. The prevalence of sleep disturbances was 79.6%. Key factors associated with sleep issues included relationship status (Chi2 = 13.39; p = 0.01), primary mental health diagnoses (Chi2 = 61.35; p < 0.001), anxiety (Chi2 = 80.28; p < 0.001), and poor wellbeing (Chi2 = 82.18; p < 0.001) at baseline.

The study reveals a high prevalence of sleep disturbances among patients preparing for discharge and identifies key risk factors. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address sleep-related issues during the discharge transition, improving recovery outcomes and reintegration into the community.