Assessing sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) among comorbid HIV and psychiatric outpatients

Background: Sleep is an essential component of physical and mental health. HIV and mental illness are both risk factors for developing sleep problems. There is a paucity of sleep research in a population with comorbid HIV and mental illness. Aim: This research study aimed to determine the prevalenc...

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Main Authors: Ahmad Peerbhay, Prinesh Miseer, Karishma Lowton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2025-04-01
Series:South African Journal of Psychiatry
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Online Access:https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2366
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author Ahmad Peerbhay
Prinesh Miseer
Karishma Lowton
author_facet Ahmad Peerbhay
Prinesh Miseer
Karishma Lowton
author_sort Ahmad Peerbhay
collection DOAJ
description Background: Sleep is an essential component of physical and mental health. HIV and mental illness are both risk factors for developing sleep problems. There is a paucity of sleep research in a population with comorbid HIV and mental illness. Aim: This research study aimed to determine the prevalence of sleep disturbances among comorbid HIV and psychiatric outpatients using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A further aim was to identify socio-demographic and clinical variables that may significantly correlate with results of their PSQI scores. Setting: Luthando Neuropsychiatric Clinic at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study assessing the sleep of comorbid HIV and psychiatric outpatients using the PSQI. A global score of 5 or greater is indicative of poor sleep quality. Eligible participants completed the self-administered PSQI, and socio-demographic and clinical data were obtained from their records. Results: A total of 71.6% of participants had an overall PSQI score of ≥ 5, indicating poor sleep quality. HIV-related factors were not predictors of poor sleep outcomes. Female gender, unemployment, absence of alcohol use and selective psychiatric diagnoses were associated with poor sleep quality. None of the participants had a sleep disorder formally diagnosed. Conclusion: Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in patients with comorbid HIV and mental illness. Actively screening this population, training of psychiatrists in diagnosing sleep disturbances and interventions to improve the quality of sleep are needed. Contribution: This research highlights the prevalence of sleep disturbances in patients with HIV and mental illness.
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spelling doaj-art-2dffb9e7af404cffae1c38b1e0ed9de82025-08-20T02:14:06ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Psychiatry1608-96852078-67862025-04-01310e1e810.4102/sajpsychiatry.v31i0.2366766Assessing sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) among comorbid HIV and psychiatric outpatientsAhmad Peerbhay0Prinesh Miseer1Karishma Lowton2Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, JohannesburgDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg,Background: Sleep is an essential component of physical and mental health. HIV and mental illness are both risk factors for developing sleep problems. There is a paucity of sleep research in a population with comorbid HIV and mental illness. Aim: This research study aimed to determine the prevalence of sleep disturbances among comorbid HIV and psychiatric outpatients using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). A further aim was to identify socio-demographic and clinical variables that may significantly correlate with results of their PSQI scores. Setting: Luthando Neuropsychiatric Clinic at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study assessing the sleep of comorbid HIV and psychiatric outpatients using the PSQI. A global score of 5 or greater is indicative of poor sleep quality. Eligible participants completed the self-administered PSQI, and socio-demographic and clinical data were obtained from their records. Results: A total of 71.6% of participants had an overall PSQI score of ≥ 5, indicating poor sleep quality. HIV-related factors were not predictors of poor sleep outcomes. Female gender, unemployment, absence of alcohol use and selective psychiatric diagnoses were associated with poor sleep quality. None of the participants had a sleep disorder formally diagnosed. Conclusion: Sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in patients with comorbid HIV and mental illness. Actively screening this population, training of psychiatrists in diagnosing sleep disturbances and interventions to improve the quality of sleep are needed. Contribution: This research highlights the prevalence of sleep disturbances in patients with HIV and mental illness.https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2366hivplwhpsychiatric disorderspsychiatric outpatientssleep qualitysleep disorderspittsburgh sleep quality index
spellingShingle Ahmad Peerbhay
Prinesh Miseer
Karishma Lowton
Assessing sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) among comorbid HIV and psychiatric outpatients
South African Journal of Psychiatry
hiv
plwh
psychiatric disorders
psychiatric outpatients
sleep quality
sleep disorders
pittsburgh sleep quality index
title Assessing sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) among comorbid HIV and psychiatric outpatients
title_full Assessing sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) among comorbid HIV and psychiatric outpatients
title_fullStr Assessing sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) among comorbid HIV and psychiatric outpatients
title_full_unstemmed Assessing sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) among comorbid HIV and psychiatric outpatients
title_short Assessing sleep using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) among comorbid HIV and psychiatric outpatients
title_sort assessing sleep using the pittsburgh sleep quality index psqi among comorbid hiv and psychiatric outpatients
topic hiv
plwh
psychiatric disorders
psychiatric outpatients
sleep quality
sleep disorders
pittsburgh sleep quality index
url https://sajp.org.za/index.php/sajp/article/view/2366
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