Sleep disturbance in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Introduction: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common, chronic disorder which results in marked distress and impairment of social and occupational functioning. Sleep disturbance often accompanies mental disorders, but there have been few studies of sleep disturbance in OCD. These have produced contradictory findings, with some reporting sleep disruption, and others a normal sleep pattern. The aim of the present study is to examine sleep patterns in OCD, to establish the frequency of the different types of insomnia (early, middle and late insomnia) in a sample of patients with OCD. The study also intends to determine whether the presence of a comorbid mood disorder influence frequency and type of insomnia. Methods: all patients with a primary diagnosis of OCD (according to DSM-IV criteria) consecutively referred to the Mood and Anxiety Disorder Unit, Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, from January 2003 to June 2008, were recruited. Frequency and severity of the different types of insomnia were evaluated on the basis of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) specific items score (item 4-5-6). A statistical comparison between OCD patients with and without insomnia was performed to examine whether there was any difference in clinical features. Then a statistical comparison between patients with and without depressive comorbidity was performed to examine whether there was any difference in prevalence and type of insomnia. Results: The sample included 315 OCD patients. More than a half of the sample suffered from any type of insomnia. The most frequent type of insomnia was early insomnia (about 44,8%). We didn't find a positive correlation between the severity measured with total Y-BOCS score or obsessions and compulsions sub-score clinical and socio-demographic features and insomnia. The presence of any comorbid depressive disorder increased the frequency of insomnia. Conclusions: Insomnia, especially the early one, is a common symptom in OCD patients with or without comorbid depressive disorders. Late insomnia is typical of OCD with comorbid major depression. © 2010 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.