Quality of life in people with insomnia

Objective: To determine whether subjects with insomnia report greater reduc tions in quality of life (QoL) than subjects without insomnia when assessed with self-report instruments. Methods: Questionnaires were completed by individuals recruited through med ia advertisements and screened with a structured telephone interview. Data obtained from 261 individuals with insomnia (INS group) were compared with those of 101 individuals with no sleep complaint, or controls (CTL group). Results: Subjects in the INS group obtained lower mean sum scores on the Me dical Outcomes Study Cognitive Scale than did subjects in the CTL group (25 .34+/-0.34 vs 31.91+0.58, t=9.53, p<0.0001). The INS group also obtained lo wer mean scores on all subscales of the SF-36 Questionnaire compared with t hose in the CTL group (teach, p<0.0001 or lower), indicating impairments ac ross multiple QoL domains. Psychiatric assessment revealed that subjects in the INS group obtained significantly higher mean item scores than subjects in the control group on the Zung Depression Scale (2.22+/-0.03 vs. 1.52+/- 0.03, p<0.0001) and the Zung Anxiety Scale (1.96+/-0.02 vs. 1.40+/-0.04, p< 0.0001). In addition, subjects in the INS group reported significantly grea ter impairments in specific QoL domains on the QoL Inventory, and the Work and Daily Activities Inventory. No differences were observed between subjec ts in the INS group who were receiving treatment for insomnia versus those who were untreated. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that significant QoL impair ments are associated with insomnia.