Self-report and polysomnographic measures of sleep in women with irritable bowel syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Women who report chronic gastrointestinal symptoms compatible with a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) frequently report sleep disturbances.


OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.
Heitkemper
M
M
Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, University of Washington, Seattle 98195, USA. heit@u.washington.edu
Charman
A B
AB
Shaver
J
J
Lentz
M J
MJ
Jarrett
M E
ME
D000328:Adult; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000150:complications* / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health