[The relationship between subjective sleep quality and aggression in male subjects with antisocial personality disorder].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate subjective sleep quality and to determine its relationship to aggression in male subjects diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (APD).


METHODS
The study included 125 male soldiers with APD that consecutively presented to the outpatient psychiatric unit of GATA Haydarpasa Training Hospital. A control group of 125 normal volunteers with no known medical or psychiatric disorders were selected from among male military personnel. The subjects were evaluated with an assessment battery, which included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Aggression Questionnaire, during a semi-structured interview.


RESULTS
The main finding was that more of the APD patients suffered from disturbed sleep quality than did the controls. Compared to the matched controls the APD patients had lower subjective sleep quality, longer sleep latency, shorter duration of sleep, less habitual sleep efficiency, more sleep disturbances, more use of sleeping medication, and a higher level of daytime dysfunction. In the APD group, elevated levels of aggression were also significantly correlated with impaired sleep quality.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study provides support for a strong link between subjective sleep quality and aggression in APD. Recognition of sleep disturbances in APD patients is also relevant to the management of APD because effective strategies to improve sleep in this patient group might also lead to vast reductions in their aggressive behaviors.
Semiz
Umit Başar
UB
GATA Haydarpaşa Eğitim Hastanesi Psikiyatri KI, Istanbul.
Algül
Ayhan
A
Başoğlu
Cengiz
C
Ateş
Mehmet Alpay
MA
Ebrinç
Servet
S
Cetin
Mesut
M
Güneş
Cengiz
C
Günay
Hüseyin
H
D000374:Aggression; D000987:Antisocial Personality Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D017286:Polysomnography; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult