Sleep reactivity predicts insomnia in patients diagnosed with breast cancer

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-1-2022

Publication Title

J Clin Sleep Med

Abstract

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To examine the role of sleep reactivity as a predictor of insomnia in patients diagnosed with breast cancer.

METHODS: One hundred and seventy three women with breast cancer participated and were followed up over a period of 9 months. At baseline participants were assigned to a high (n=114) or low (n=59) sleep reactivity group, based on their responses to the Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test (FIRST). We assessed whether these FIRST groupings (high/low sleep reactivity) predicted changes in insomnia over time using the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). We also tested if these FIRST groupings predicted insomnia disorder (using ISI index cut-offs) at three different time points (T3, T6 and T9).

RESULTS: Individuals with high sleep reactivity were more likely to experience a worsening of insomnia. Using logistic regression we also found that FIRST grouping predicted insomnia disorder. Results remained significant after controlling for estimated pre-morbid sleep, age and whether someone had chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that sleep reactivity may be a robust predictor of insomnia within breast cancer populations. Sleep reactivity should be considered in routine clinical assessments as a reliable way to identify patients at risk of developing insomnia. This would facilitate early sleep intervention for those patients who are considered high risk.

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; Female; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/complications; Breast Neoplasms/complications; Stress; Psychological; Sleep/physiology; Ford Insomnia Response to Stress Test; breast cancer; chemotherapy; insomnia; sleep; sleep reactivity

PubMed ID

35912701

ePublication

ePub ahead of print

Volume

18

Issue

11

First Page

2597

Last Page

2604

Find It @ Sladen

Share

COinS