Delayed sleep phase syndrome: a forerunner of psychiatric distress

ABSTRACT

To determine the association of extrinsic delayed sleep phase syndrome [DSPS] and psychiatric distress. Cross-sectional, analytical study. Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, from July 2009 to September 2010. Sales personnel employed in different shopping malls in Karachi operating from 2 pm afternoon to 12.00 mid-night were inducted. The instrument used to define DSPS included difficulty in falling sleep timely at night and early rising in the morning. The proven DSPS subjects were studied by the Aga Khan University Anxiety Depression Scale [AKUADS] to explore the association of extrinsic [motivational] DSPS with anxiety and depression syndrome along with a survey questionnaire having twelve questions based on the criteria of ICSD [International Classification of Sleep Disorder] on DSPS, to study different characteristics of these subjects and its relationship with psychiatric illness. Eight hundred and eleven subjects were inducted, majority were male [n = 757, 93.3%]. Three hundred and forty-five [42.5%] subjects scored > 19 with mean value of 41.4 +/- 15.90. Result supported an association between DSPS and psychiatric distress. Extrinsic DSPS prevention necessitates attention because of its positive relationship with psychiatric distress.