A cross-sectional study of insomnia severity and cognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia patients under remission

Abstract

Background: Sleep disturbances are commonly seen in mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Even though psychiatric symptoms are treated, sleep disturbances remain to be persisting in some groups of patients. Persistent sleep disturbances could lead to relapse of the disorder per se or could lead to cognitive dysfunction or impairment. Depending on the severity of insomnia, cognitive impairment can vary among remitted patients. Methodology: A total of 200 patients suffering from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder under remission are taken for the study. After obtaining the sociodemographic profile of the patients, insomnia severity is calculated using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scale and cognitive impairment is assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). ISI scores are compared ith MoCA scores and cognitive impairment is assessed in those patients using statistical analysis. Results: The mean age as found to be 32.08, the mean ISI score is 20.55, and the mean MoCA score is 23.15. ISI score as negatively correlated to MoCA score and age. MoCA score as positively correlated to age. Conclusions: Cognitive impairment, as observed on MoCA score, as more hen the insomnia severity is high and also ith increasing age. Correcting the underlying insomnia in remitted patients is very important in preventing cognitive impairment.