SUBJECTIVE SLEEP-WAKE PARAMETERS IN TREATMENT-SEEKING OPIATE ADDICTS

We investigated subjective sleep parameters and sleep difficulties of opiate addicts undertaking methadone detoxification and identified the ir sleep profile. Using the St Mary's Sleep Questionnaire, we compared the subjective sleep parameters of 27 consecutively consenting patien ts (16 males, 11 females) with a mean age of 33 years (S.D. = 7.5) und ertaking in-patient methadone detoxification with those of 26 drug-fre e controls (9 males, 17 females) with a mean age of 35 years (S.D. = 8 .0). Our findings reveal that subjective sleep parameters of opiate ad dicts and controls are quantitatively and qualitatively different. The patients are more likely than controls to report difficulty initiatin g sleep (OR = 5.42; 95%CI = 1.43, 20.47); difficulty maintaining sleep (OR = 16.50; 95%CI = 3.81, 71.47); inadequate sleep quality (OR = 8.5 6; 95%CI = 2.04, 35.81); and inadequate sleep quantity (OR = 9.00; 95% CI = 2.49, 32.57). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.