Indian Journal of Sleep Medicine
  • Year: 2012
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 3

Insomnia: Presence of somatic-psychological complaints and personality traits in the Indian population

1Consultant, Clinical Psychologist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi

2Senior Consultant, Neurologist, Department of Sleep Medicine, Medanta Medicity, Gurgaon

*Address for correspondence: Dr Monika Sharma, M Phil, PhD**, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi Monikasharma217@gmail.com, Ph: 919871933475, Fax: 011-25861002

Online published on 3 April, 2013.

Abstract

To investigate the association of somatic-psychological complaints (SPCs) and personality traits with insomnia in a clinically unselected sample of adult Indian population. The effects of extraversion (E), neuroticism (N), depression and anxiety, somatic complaints in addition to demographic variables were examined using a questionnaire in patients with insomnia.

A retrospective descriptive design with convenient sampling. A direct interview using a structured questionnaire, which solicited information about sleep, somatic complaints (headache, backache, stiff neck/shoulder, fatigue), psychological variables (anxiety and depression), personality (extraversion, neuroticism) and socio-demographic information was administered.

Patients visiting the hospital with chief complaint of disturbed and poor sleep were clinically interviewed. Overall, 150 consecutive patients were selected for the study. Out of 150 subjects, 89 met the inclusion criteria.

N/A.

Those meeting the criteria were administrated the psychometric battery. The cutoff score for poor quality of sleep on Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was >5, whereas for severe depression and anxiety on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was >11. A total of 89 subjects with a mean age of 34.56±12.17 years were examined. Overall, 56% of them had poor quality of sleep, whereas 60% of them suffered from depression and anxiety. Somatic complaints were reported by 76.4% of subjects. Overall, 72% had SPCs and these were more prevalent in younger males and females. Univariate analysis showed that insomnia was significantly associated with age (middle aged), marital status (married), somatic complaints, anxiety, depression and neuroticism.

SPCs were common in patients with insomnia in an unselected sample of an adult Indian population. Neuroticism, somatic and severe psychological complaints seem to have a strong association with insomnia in this population. Further study is needed to examine the casual links between SPCs and insomnia in the Indian population.

Keywords

Somatic Complaints, Depression, Anxiety, Personality, Sleep Quality