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Sleep Disorders Among People With Schizophrenia: Emerging Research

Current Psychiatry Reports volume 17, Article number: 79 (2015) Cite this article

Abstract

Up to 80 % of individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders experience sleep disturbances, which impact physical and mental health, as well as quality of life. In this paper, we review and integrate emerging literature, published between 2012 and 2014, regarding approaches to diagnosis and treatment of major sleep disorders for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, including insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), circadian rhythm dysfunction, and restless legs syndrome (RLS). We advocate for (1) the need to evaluate the utility of nonpharmacological approaches in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders; (2) documentation of guidelines to assist providers in clinically tailoring such interventions when their clients experience positive, negative, and/or cognitive symptoms; (3) research on the best ways providers can capitalize on clients’ self-identified needs and motivation to engage in sleep treatments through shared decision making; and (4) the importance of investigating whether and how mental health and sleep treatment services should be better connected to facilitate access for people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Assessment and tailored treatment of sleep disorders within mental health treatment settings has the potential to reduce sleep problems and improve functioning, quality of life, and recovery of this population.

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Acknowledgments

This research is supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Academic Affiliations Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment. It is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at the VA Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5) MIRECC. The authors specially thank Alicia Lucksted for her helpful input to this project.

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Conflict of Interest

Elizabeth A. Klingaman, Jessica Palmer-Bacon, Melanie E. Bennett, and Laura M. Rowland declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights and Informed Consent

This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Capitol Health Care Network (VISN 5), 10 North Greene Street (Annex Suite 720), Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Elizabeth A. Klingaman & Melanie E. Bennett

  2. Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 737 W. Lombard St., Room 551, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Elizabeth A. Klingaman, Jessica Palmer-Bacon & Melanie E. Bennett

  3. Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, P.O. Box 21247, Baltimore, MD, 21228, USA

    Laura M. Rowland

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  1. Elizabeth A. Klingaman
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  2. Jessica Palmer-Bacon
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  4. Laura M. Rowland
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Correspondence to Elizabeth A. Klingaman.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Sleep Disorders

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Klingaman, E.A., Palmer-Bacon, J., Bennett, M.E. et al. Sleep Disorders Among People With Schizophrenia: Emerging Research. Curr Psychiatry Rep 17, 79 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-015-0616-7

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Keywords

  • Sleep
  • Schizophrenia
  • Psychosis
  • Insomnia
  • CBT-I