title: Prevalence of Sleep Disorders and their Effects on Sleep Quality in Epileptic Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Epilepsy is a complex pervasive neurobehavioral and social condition accompanied by a wide range of comorbid conditions that can adversely affect the quality of life of patients. Sleep complaints are common among patients with epilepsy. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of subjective sleep disturbances and its effects on sleep quality in epileptic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 152 consecutive epileptic patients and 152 controls were interviewed. We used Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, Berlin Questionnaire and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index to measure excessive daytime sleepiness, insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea and sleep quality. R estless leg syndrome was diagnosed using three questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age, gender and average total sleep time was similar in patients and control group. The frequency of excessive sleepiness scale and subjective complaint of sleep maintenance was higher in epileptic patients than control group (P<0.05). The symptoms of restless leg syndrome were reported by 32.3% of patients and 11.8% of controls (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daytime sleepiness, difficulty in sleep maintenance, poor sleep quality and RLS appear to be common in patients with epilepsy. Further confirmatory studies are needed using objective sleep studies to detect underlying mechanisms of sleep disorders in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Metabolic Disease Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yazdi
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Khosro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sadeghniiat-Haghighi
authors.affiliation: Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
authors.forename: Shoaib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naimian
authors.affiliation: Metabolic Disease Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Zohal
authors.affiliation: General physician.
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghaniri
keywords: Epilepsy; Excessive Daytime Sleepiness; Seizure; Sleep Disorders