Subjective Sleep Quality and Suicidality among Out-Patients with Schizophrenia in Nigeria

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder associated with significant functional impairment and disability. Sleep disturbances and suicidality are among the common presentations. There is paucity of evidence of any correlation between poor subjective sleep quality and suicidality among patients with schizophrenia in Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of poor subjective sleep quality and its association with suicidality among out-patients with schizophrenia.

A cross-sectional study of 153 adult out-patients with schizophrenia. A socio-demographic questionnaire, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and suicidality module of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview were administered.

The prevalence of suicidality was 65 (42.5%) while the current prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts were 54 (34.3%) and n=2 (1.3 %) respectively. One-third of the participants reported poor subjective sleep quality 59 (38.6%). Suicidality was significantly associated with poor subjective sleep quality (aOR 4.13; 95%CI: 1.89-9.01), symptom severity (aOR: 1.08; 95%CI: 1.01-1.15), and being separated or widowed or divorced (aOR: 5.3; 95%CI: 1.78-15.82).

Suicidality is common among outpatients with schizophrenia in Nigeria. Poor subjective sleep quality, symptom severity and marital separation were independently associated with suicidality.