Sleepiness in psychosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Sleepiness in psychosis: a mixed-methods exploration
IRAS ID
321546
Contact name
Sarah Reeve
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of East Anglia
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 3 days
Research summary
Sleep problems are common in people with psychosis. Sleep disorders including insomnia, nightmares, and hypersomnia are known to be common in patients with psychosis. Not only are sleep disorders disruptive and distressing in and of themselves, but they have also been proposed as one mechanism developing and sustaining psychotic symptoms and functional impairment. To date, research on sleep problems in psychosis has focused on sleep problems that shorten a night’s sleep (e.g., insomnia), there has been less research on sleep problems where people sleep for a longer time, such as hypersomnia and excessive sleepiness.
Excessive sleepiness is when a person will struggle to stay awake during the day and is often accompanied by ‘extended sleep duration’ (defined as more than 11 hours sleeping in a 24-hour period) i.e., hypersomnia. Presentation of excessive sleepiness in patients with psychosis is often attributed to antipsychotic medication. However, recent research has suggested that while the medication has sedative effects, other factors may also contribute to excessive sleepiness, and could perhaps be altered (e.g., mood and activity levels). However, research on excessive sleepiness in connection to schizophrenia and psychosis is scarce.
The aim of this study is to improve our understanding of the frequency, predictors, and experience of sleepiness among people who live with psychosis. Exploring what people with psychosis think of excessive sleepiness can help us to know where support and further research is needed.REC name
London - Bloomsbury Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/LO/0085
Date of REC Opinion
8 Feb 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion