Southeastern European Medical Journal (Nov 2020)

Sleep Disorders in Cervical Dystonia, Parkinson’s Disease and Depression – What Is the Difference?

  • Svetlana Tomić,
  • Dunja Degmečić,
  • Fabian Gjoni,
  • Iva Dumenčić,
  • Snežana Milanović,
  • Tihana Gilman Kuric,
  • Zvonimir Popović,
  • Tea Mirošević Zubonja

DOI
https://doi.org/10.26332/seemedj.v4i2.159
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 2
pp. 35 – 47

Abstract

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Introduction: Sleep disorders are among the most common non-motor symptoms in patients with cervical dystonia (CD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and depression. The study aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of sleep disorders in patients with cervical dystonia compared to healthy controls, patients with Parkinson's disease, and patients with depression. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated 122 patients (30 control patients, 30 with cervical dystonia, 32 with Parkinson's disease, and 30 with depression). Demographic data were collected. All of them, except for the depression group, were tested for depression and anxiety using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Sleep disorders were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Statistical significance was defined at α=0.05. Results: Patients with cervical dystonia differed from the healthy control group in terms of PSQI score and some subscales. The depression group differed in most PSQI subscales when compared to the patients with Parkinson's disease and cervical dystonia, while the latter two groups of patients differed only in the duration subscale. Patients with Parkinson's disease differed from other groups of patients only in one subscale - daytime sleepiness. Conclusion: Cervical dystonia patients suffer from more sleep disturbances when compared to healthy controls. There are differences in the frequency and extent of sleep disturbances with less pronounced symptoms in patients with cervical dystonia and Parkinson's disease, while patients with depression present the most pronounced symptoms. Symptoms of depression and anxiety correlate with sleep disturbances in patients with Parkinson's disease and cervical dystonia. Patients with cervical dystonia do not experience daytime sleepiness problems.

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