Abstract

The aims of the present research were to describe in more detail than in previous investigations the occurrence and nature of self reported sleep problems and behaviours in individuals diagnosed with respiratory diseases compared to matched healthy controls and to investigate the psychological associations of these sleep problems.

The prevalence and range of sleep disorders was investigated using the Basic Nordic Sleep Questionnaire (BNSQ). Individuals diagnosed with respiratory diseases, included those with asthma (n=46), Chronic Obstructive Respiratory Disease (COPD) (n=18), bronchiectasis (n=16) and asbestosis and related conditions (n=11) and these were compared with healthy matched controls. Individuals with respiratory diseases were recruited from the Queen Alendra out-patients Respiratory Service at Portsmouth Hospitals National Health Service Trust. Healthy matched controls were recruited through various sources including University of Portsmouth, Queen Alexandra Hospital and Portsmouth City Council staff.

Overall individuals diagnosed with asthma, COPD, bronchiectasis and asbestosis and related conditions showed a significantly greater number of self reported sleep problems and behaviours than the healthy controls. A range of sleep problems and behaviours were found in the four respiratory disease groups. These were in many of the categories of sleep disorders as defined by the International Classification of Sleep Disorders - 2 (2005): disorders of initiating and maintaining sleep, features associated with sleep disordered breathing, other disorders/behaviours occurring during the sleep and sleep related disorders/behaviours occurring during the day.

Psychological functioning was assessed including quality of life, mental health and cognitive functioning using validated psychometric assessments. Many significant differences were found between the individuals with respiratory disease and their healthy controls on these measures. Significant associations were found between the sleep disorders and behaviours and measures of psychological functioning.

Course: Master of Philosophy - MPhil

Date Deposited: 2017-05-17

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis12891.html