Sleep disorders and their relationship to other psychiatric disorders in women with breast cancer: a case-control study

Abstract

Background Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women, impacting 2.1 million women each year. The aim of the study is to determine prevalence of sleep disorders among patients with breast cancer, its correlation with different psychological symptoms and the ability of such symptoms to predict sleep disorders among those patients. The current study is a case-control study compromised of 153 participants, 93 breast cancer patients versus 60 cross-matched healthy control persons recruited from the outpatient clinic of Oncology Department—Assiut University Hospital. Arabic versions of Beck’s Depression Inventory, symptom checklist, and Sleep Disorder Scale were used to evaluate depression, obsession, sensitivity, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoia ideation, psychoticism, and sleep disorders, respectively. The correlation of this data with clinical and social variables of these patients and the effect of such variables on each other were also determined. Results A statistically higher prevalence of sleep disorders and depression was reported among breast cancer patients compared to the control group. Also, patients with breast cancer scored statistically higher mean scores in somatization, obsession, sensitivity, anxiety, and phobic anxiety than those of the control group. Conclusions Prevalence of sleep disorders, depression, obsession, sensitivity, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoia ideation, and psychoticism among breast cancer patients poses a challenge to the treatment of such patients. Misdiagnosis and mismanagement lead to poor treatment outcomes of both cancer disease and psychiatric disorders.

Oncology Outpatients With Worse Anxiety and Sleep Disturbance Profiles Are at Increased Risk for a Higher Symptom Burden and Poorer Quality of Life

“…In addition, in a study of healthy individuals that evaluated the relationships among abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity and sleep quality, 53 subtle changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal responses (measured using the cortisol awakening response) and higher trait anxiety were associated with poorer sleep quality and lower cognitive function. An equally plausible explanation is that cancer and its treatments are perceived by some patients as life-threatening events that contribute to persistent anxiety and sleep disturbance 54 . Additional research is needed to replicate our profiles and determine the underlying mechanisms that may contribute to higher levels of individual symptoms, as well as the joint symptom profiles.…”

“…An equally plausible explanation is that cancer and its treatments are perceived by some patients as life-threatening events that contribute to persistent anxiety and sleep disturbance. 54 Additional research is needed to replicate our profiles and determine the underlying mechanisms that may contribute to higher levels of individual symptoms, as well as the joint symptom profiles.…”

Theory Guided Practices: An Approach to Better Nursing Care through Roy Adaptation Model

“…17 Women with breast cancer may have compromised quality of life and need attention, proper treatment, and quality care to adjust tothis traumatic event and overcome this distressing situation. 18…”