Sleep Disturbances Among Adult Patients with Mood Disorders: A Saudi Cross-Sectional Study

Mood disorders (MDs) rank among the most common psychiatric illnesses and frequently co-occur with sleep disturbances that worsen prognosis, impair functioning, and reduce quality of life. This study examines sleep disturbances in patients with MDs at a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia (King Khalid University Hospital) and aims to identify the factors correlated with sleep disturbances.

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional study using convenience sampling with 306 participants. The assessment tool included a questionnaire developed by the research team to capture sociodemographic, psychiatric, medical, and sleep-related information, as well as the Arabic versions of the Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI) and the Glasgow Sleep Effort Scale (GSES).

Nearly one-third (31.1%) of the participants reported a diagnosed sleep disorder, with insomnia being the most common (80.0%). Univariate analysis revealed that higher SHI scores were significantly associated with younger age (P = 0.024), single marital status (P = 0.002), and smoking (P = 0.006). In the multivariable model, only smoking remained significantly associated with higher SHI scores. Regarding the GSES, unemployment and chronic diseases were linked to higher scores in univariate analysis (P = 0.048 and P = 0.001, respectively). The multivariate analysis indicated that younger age and chronic diseases were significantly associated with higher GSES scores (P = 0.021 and P < 0.001, respectively).

Sleep disturbances occur at high rates among patients with MDs and are associated with behavioral, psychosocial, and medical factors. Targeted interventions addressing smoking, chronic-disease management, and age-specific vulnerabilities may improve sleep quality and overall outcomes.