title: Mental health effects from urban bed bug infestation (Cimex lectularius L.): a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether bed bug infestation was linked to sleep disturbances and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Exploratory cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Convenience sample of tenants recruited in apartment complexes from Montreal, Canada.
  
  
  METHODS
  39 bed bug-exposed tenants were compared with 52 unexposed tenants.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of bed bug-exposed tenants on sleep disturbances, anxiety and depression symptoms measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, 5th subscale, Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale and Patient Health Questionnaire, 9-item, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In adjusted models, bed bug infestation was strongly associated with measured anxiety symptoms (OR (95% CI)=4.8 (1.5 to 14.7)) and sleep disturbance (OR (95% CI)=5.0 (1.3-18.8)). There was a trend to report more symptoms of depression in the bed bug-infested group, although this finding was not statistically significant ((OR (95% CI)=2.5(0.8 to 7.3)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that individuals exposed to bed bug infestations are at risk of experiencing sleep disturbance and of developing symptoms of anxiety and possibly depression. Greater clinical awareness of this problem is needed in order for patients to receive appropriate mental healthcare. These findings highlight the need for undertaking of deeper inquiry, as well as greater collaboration between medical professionals, public health and community stakeholders.
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine sociale et préventive, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephanie Rebecca
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Susser
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perron
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fournier
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jacques
authors.forename: Geoffroy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tessier
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roberge