Eglovitch Michelle, Parlier-Ahmad Anna Beth, Patev Alison J, Cook Brenna, Shi Chengxian, Violante Stephanie, Dzierzewski Joseph M, James Morgan H, Martin Caitlin E
Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.
School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States of America.
PLOS Ment Health. 2025;2(4). doi: 10.1371/journal.pmen.0000250. Epub 2025 Apr 8.
Sleep issues are prevalent among women receiving medication for opioid use disorder (OUD). However, there is limited data about subjective sleep experiences and how they relate to OUD trajectories. This mixed-methods study explored the intersection of sleep and OUD recovery from the patient perspective among a sample of women receiving medication for OUD. This study enrolled non-pregnant women aged 18-65 who were stabilized on buprenorphine from an outpatient OUD program. Participants were recruited during their routine treatment visits, and enrollment occurred from February 2022 through September 2023. Study participants who endorsed clinically elevated insomnia symptoms on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) (≥11 score) (n=50) were included in current study analyses. A sub-sample (n=11) who met the ISI threshold participated in semi-structured interviews. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and interviews were analyzed using applied thematic analysis. The average length of time on buprenorphine for the overall sample was 30 months (range: 2 months - 245 months). Participants reported engagement in healthy sleep behaviors, grouped into four domains: positive sleep related cognitions, sleep environment, sleep restriction, and reducing stimulating activities. Respondents characterized the multidimensional relationship between sleep and health. Women also described how sleep evolves through addiction into recovery, and how good sleep reduces risk of return to substance use. Finally, women discussed the impacts that medication for OUD have on sleep, specifically how they might time their buprenorphine to align with sleep and how it might impact their energy levels. We found that sleep is a dynamic process among this sample of women receiving medication for OUD. Findings are intended to inform future investigations of the mechanisms underlying the sleep-OUD intersection. In addition, this study reflects the importance of incorporating patient perspectives into the development of therapeutics targeting this patient population.
睡眠问题在接受阿片类药物使用障碍（OUD）治疗的女性中很普遍。然而，关于主观睡眠体验以及它们与OUD病程的关系的数据有限。这项混合方法研究从接受OUD治疗的女性样本的患者角度探讨了睡眠与OUD康复的交叉点。本研究招募了年龄在18 - 65岁、在门诊OUD项目中使用丁丙诺啡病情稳定的非孕妇。参与者在常规治疗就诊期间被招募，招募时间为2022年2月至2023年9月。在失眠严重程度指数（ISI）上认可临床失眠症状升高（得分≥11）的研究参与者（n = 50）被纳入本研究分析。符合ISI阈值的一个子样本（n = 11）参与了半结构化访谈。调查回复使用描述性统计进行分析，访谈使用应用主题分析进行分析。整个样本使用丁丙诺啡的平均时间为30个月（范围：2个月 - 245个月）。参与者报告参与了健康的睡眠行为，分为四个领域：积极的睡眠相关认知、睡眠环境、睡眠限制和减少刺激性活动。受访者描述了睡眠与健康之间的多维度关系。女性还描述了睡眠如何从成瘾阶段发展到康复阶段，以及良好的睡眠如何降低复吸的风险。最后，女性讨论了OUD药物对睡眠的影响，特别是她们如何安排丁丙诺啡的服用时间以适应睡眠，以及这可能如何影响她们的能量水平。我们发现，在这个接受OUD治疗的女性样本中，睡眠是一个动态过程。研究结果旨在为未来对睡眠与OUD交叉点潜在机制的研究提供信息。此外，本研究反映了将患者观点纳入针对该患者群体的治疗方法开发中的重要性。
