Summary Question of the Study
Insomnia complaints are common in patients with panic disorder. Polysomnographic studies have confirmed patients' poorer sleep quality. The present study investigates subjective sleep quality and its relationship to nocturnal panic attacks.
Patients and Methods
Fifty-four outpatients with panic disorder were included. During the course of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, the patients completed several question-naires assessing sleep quality, nocturnal panic attacks and panic symptomatology.
Results
As expected, sleep quality was markedly reduced in the sample. In addition to insomnia complaints, restless legs symptoms and parasomnias were reported more often. Patients with nocturnal panic attacks reported lower sleep quality than the other patients, a finding that was not influenced by course or duration of the panic disorder.
Conclusions
We suggest that assessment and specialized treatment of comorbid sleep disorders is very helpful for this patient group, especially for patients who suffer from nocturnal panic attacks.