Abstract
Introduction: Sleep disorders in patients with a primary alcohol dependence occur within the phase of active drinking as well as within the acute and subacute withdrawel or in the abstinence. Patients and methods: Forty patients with a primary alcohol dependence were compared with 30 age and gender matched healthy control subjects concerning psychometrically evaluated sleep (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI], Schlaffragebogen-A [SF-A]) at the beginning of abstinence. In accordance with the literature patients with alcohol dependence showed a significant impairment of subjective sleep quality compared to healthy controls. The amount of the reduction of subjectively experienced sleep duration was prognostic for early relapse in the alcohol dependent patients. Patients who remained abstinent over the course of one year showed a tendency to normalization of subjective sleep experience. Conclusions: Our study confirms previous findings concerning subjective sleep parameters of alcohol dependent patients during the course of abstinence. The results with respect to prognosis of early relapse and concerning the course of sleep disturbances during abstinence do agree with polysomnographic data from alcohol dependent patients. These data underline the importance of the diagnosis and therapy of sleep disturbances of abstinent alcohol dependent patients, especially with respect to the prophylaxis of relapses.
Translated title of the contribution | Subjective estimation of sleep in patients with primary alcohol dependence |
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Original language | German |
Journal | Somnologie |
Volume | 5 |
Issue number | 2 |
Pages (from-to) | 65-70 |
Number of pages | 6 |
ISSN | 1432-9123 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2001 |
Research Areas and Centers
- Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)