Insomnia among methadone-maintained individuals: the feasibility of collecting home polysomnographic recordings.
Sleep disturbance among methadone-maintained patients is highly prevalent. A full understanding of sleep disturbance requires polysomnographic measures along with subjective sleep quality measures. The goal of this study was to describe the authors' experiences in performing at-home unattended polysomnography in this population. Participants had a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score of six or higher, which indicates clinically significant insomnia, and 65% of eligible individuals agreed to enroll. Among 88 participants (53% female, 82% white, and a mean methadone dose of 105 mg/day), each undergoing two nights of home polysomnography, we initiated 165 of a maximum of 176 recordings. Overall, 81.7% of participants provided at least one night of "acceptable" polysomnographic data of at least 4 hours duration. Urine toxicology on polysomnographic nights demonstrated that benzodiazepine use was common. The authors conclude that unattended polysomnography is feasible in a population of individuals receiving methadone maintenance treatment. Polysomnography signal quality and overall study success rates were similar to those in non-substance using populations.
General Medicine Research Unit, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI 02906, USA. mkurth@butler.org
Megan E
ME
Kurth
Katherine M
KM
Sharkey
Richard P
RP
Millman
Richard P
RP
Corso
Michael D
MD
Stein
D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000652:urine; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000150:complications*
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008691:Methadone