[Sleep disorders in patients with cervical dystonia].

AIM

To clarify the structure of sleep disorders in cervical dystonia and assess their relationship with anxiety and depressive disorders, as well as the impact on quality of life.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-five patients diagnosed with cervical dystonia (CD) were examined using neurological and psychometric methods (HADS, HAM-D, TAS, SCID-II, SF-36, PSQI). Polysomnographic study was performed using a Somnolab 2 system (Weinmann, Germany).

RESULTS

Nineteen patients (76%) from the total sample showed increases in anxiety and depression. Sleep disorders were detected in all patients diagnosed with anxiety and depressive disorders. According to questionnaires, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances were significantly correlated with patients' quality of life. The most common sleep disorders were intrasomic disorders (waking up during sleep) (=19; 76%), less common were presomnic (=8; 32%) and postsomnic (=11; 44%). Motor symptoms caused sleep disturbances only in 10 patients (40%). The specific features of sleep disorders in patients with CD detected by polysomnography are a decrease in the representation of delta-sleep, along with an increase in the phase of REM sleep, compared to physiological normal values.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep disturbances (mainly frequent waking during sleep) are widely represented in patients with cervical dystonia, are comorbid to anxiety and depressive disorders and significantly correlate with the poorer quality of life.