Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 26, 2025

Quantifying Infra-slow Dynamics of Spectral Power and Heart Rate in Sleeping Mice
Published on: August 2, 2017
Rasch analysis of the pre-sleep arousal scale in patients with acute insomnia disorder
Aike Wu1, Yiqi Pu1, Yuhan Zhao1
1Department of Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Mental Health of the Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China.
Background:
Hyperarousal plays an essential role in the initiation and maintenance of insomnia, highlighting the need for a tool that measure the hyperarousal state during the early course of insomnia. Pre-sleep Arousal Scale (PSAS) is a self-report questionnaire to evaluate subjective pre-sleep arousal of insomnia. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the PSAS among patients with acute insomnia disorder (AID) using Rasch analysis.
Methods:
Totally 170 patients with AID from 31 public hospitals in China were recruited and completed the test. The psychometric properties of the PSAS were tested using Rasch analysis by Winsteps v5.4.1.0, including unidimensionality, local item independence, item fit, category diagnostics, reliability, item-person maps and differential item functioning (DIF) by age and gender.
Results:
According to Rasch analysis, somatic and cognitive subscales were unidimensional and basically demonstrated good item-fit statistics. 4-point Likert scale may be more appropriate for PSAS. All items have a good reliability and separation. No gender and age bias were detected for the scale. However, the person arousal level is not well matched to item difficulty.
Conclusion:
The present study further reveals appropriate psychometric properties of the PSAS in patients with AID and provides suggestions for refinements and supplements to the PSAS.
Related Concept Videos
Sleep-Wake Cycles
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
Insomnia
Multiple factors contribute...
Management of Insomnia
Stages of Sleep
Before sleep begins, in wakefulness, the brain exhibits primarily beta waves, which are high in frequency and low in amplitude, indicating alertness...
Insufficient Sleep and Sleep Deprivation
Sleep deprivation is a more severe form of sleep loss...
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
RBD is significantly associated with...

