Self-Reported Sleep and Exercise Patterns in Patients with Schizophrenia: a Cross-Sectional Comparative Study

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Sleep Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Sleep and physical activity are crucial for patient well-being, including those with psychiatric conditions.
• Schizophrenia patients frequently exhibit disturbed sleep and reduced physical activity, impacting their health and psychopathology.
• These sleep and activity patterns remain understudied in Arab populations with schizophrenia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare sleep and exercise patterns in Arab patients diagnosed with schizophrenia against healthy controls.
• To identify potential correlations between sleep, physical activity, and clinical factors in this demographic.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 99 schizophrenia patients and 101 healthy controls participated in the study.
• Validated Arabic questionnaires assessed sleep, exercise, socio-demographics, and clinical variables, including psychopathology, depression, and suicidality.

Main Results:

• Patients with schizophrenia predominantly slept over 8 hours daily and exercised less than controls.
• Poorer sleep quality correlated with higher depression scores; lower sleep duration was associated with increased suicidality.
• Schizophrenia patients demonstrated a higher likelihood of prolonged sleep duration, independent of antipsychotic use and other factors.

Conclusions:

• Arab patients with schizophrenia face a heightened risk of extended sleep duration and insufficient physical activity.
• These sleep and activity disturbances are significantly associated with exacerbated depressive symptoms and suicidality.
• Clinical attention to sleep patterns and exercise levels is vital for managing Arab patients with schizophrenia.