SELF-REPORT AND POLYSOMNOGRAPHIC MEASURES OF SLEEP IN WOMEN WITH IRRITABLE-BOWEL-SYNDROME

Background: Women who report chronic gastrointestinal symptoms compati ble with a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) frequently repo rt sleep disturbances. Objectives: The purposes of this study were to (a) compare self-reported and polysomnographic indicators of sleep qua lity in women with IBS symptoms (IBS-SX, n= 16) and controls (n= 16); (b) examine the relationship between the indicators of sleep quality; and (c) determine the relationship between sleep indicators and psycho logical distress. Method: The women slept in a laboratory for 2 consec utive nights. Polysomnographic measurements were recorded during sleep , and a sleep questionnaire was completed upon awakening each morning. Psychological distress was measured with the Symptom Checklist-90-R d uring the initial interview. Results: Women in the IBS-SX group report ed significantly greater numbers of awakenings during sleep (p=.008) a nd had a longer latency to REM sleep (p=.04) than did the controls. Se lf-reported and polysomnographic indicators were more highly correlate d in the control group than in the IBS-SX group. In the IBS-SX group, the greater the psychological distress, the less alert (r(s) =.419) an d rested (r(s) =.564) the women felt in the morning and the more time the women spent in stages 3 and 4 sleep (r(s) =.479) and less in stage 2 (r(s)=-.447) and REM (r(s) =-.414) sleep. In the control group, psy chological distress was not significantly associated with self-reporte d measures but was significantly associated with the number of awakeni ngs (r(s)=.506) and time in stages 3 and 4 sleep (r(s) = -.677). Concl usions: Although the women in the IBS-SX group reported significantly more awakenings, the weak relationship between self-reported and polys omnographic indicators suggests that clinicians must keep in mind that further assessments may be necessary.