Self-Report and Polysomnographic Measures of Sleep in Women with Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Margaret Heitkemper, Alison Beth Deitz Charman, Joan Shaver, Martha J. Lentz, Monica E. Jarrett

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Women who report chronic gastrointestinal symptoms compatible with a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) frequently report sleep disturbances. Objectives: The purposes of this study were to (a) compare self-reported and polysomnographic indicators of sleep quality in women with IBS symptoms (IBS-SX, n = 16) and controls (n = 16); (b) examine the relationship between the indicators of sleep quality; and (c) determine the relationship between sleep indicators and psychological distress. Method: The women slept in a laboratory for 2 consecutive nights. Polysomnographic measurements were recorded during sleep, and a sleep questionnaire was completed upon awakening each morning. Psychological distress was measured with the Symptom Checklist-90-R during the initial interview. Results: Women in the IBS-SX group reported significantly greater numbers of awakenings during sleep (p = .008) and had a longer latency to REM sleep (p = .04) than did the controls. Self-reported and polysomnographic indicators were more highly correlated in the control group than in the IBS-SX group. In the IBS-SX group, the greater the psychological distress, the less alert (rs = .419) and rested (rs = .564) the women felt in the morning and the more time the women spent in stages 3 and 4 sleep (rs = .479) and less in stage 2 (rs = -.447) and REM (rs = -.414) sleep. In the control group, psychological distress was not significantly associated with self-reported measures but was significantly associated with the number of awakenings (rs = .506) and time in stages 3 and 4 sleep (rs = -.677). Conclusions: Although the women in the IBS-SX group reported significantly more awakenings, the weak relationship between self-reported and polysomnographic indicators suggests that clinicians must keep in mind that further assessments may be necessary.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)270-277
Number of pages8
JournalNursing research
Volume47
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 1998
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Sleep
  • Women

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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