P104 Exploring the heterogeneity of psychiatric symptom profiles in sleep clinic patients using a cross-cutting dimensional approach. (9th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Saunders, W; Wellecke, C; Spina, M; Lu, S; Ng, Y; Wasgewatta, S; Cahill, F; Jenkins, C; Rajaratnam, S; Hamilton, G; Mansfield, D; Bei, B
• Is Part Of: Sleep advances. Volume 3(2022)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A63
• Page End: A64
• Publication Date: 2022-11-09
• Subjects: Sleep disorders -- Periodicals; Circadian rhythms -- Periodicals; 616.8498
• DOI: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpac029.174
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2632-5012

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Individuals attending sleep services commonly present with comorbid psychiatric symptoms. This study reports our ongoing effort to characterise presenting psychiatric symptom profiles of individuals seeking treatment at a sleep clinic and classify heterogenous subgroups within a large sample. Method: Data were collected at a university-based multidisciplinary sleep clinic via opt-out consent. Prior to treatment, individuals completed the Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure (CCSM), which provides a transdiagnostic symptom profile by measuring 13 domains of mental health (e.g., anger, anxiety, depression, psychosis, mania, memory). Additional questions on demographics and the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire Reduced (rMEQ) were also administered. Results: 1263 participants (52.9% male; age M±SD= 43.53±16.06) completed the CCSM and were analysed. Latent class analysis revealed 3 distinct profiles: Low-Symptom subgroup (n=655, 51.9%) reported mild affective and somatic symptoms; Psychopathology subgroup (n=342, 27.1%) reported moderate to severe psychopathology including psychosis, dissociation, and suicidality, in conjunction with severe affective, obsessive-compulsive, and somatic symptoms, and significant interference with memory and personality functioning; Affective-Disturbance subgroup (n=266, 21.1%) reported moderate affective and somatic symptoms, and some interference with memory and personality functioning. The three subgroups did not differ significantly on key demographics or the rMEQ. Discussion: There was heterogeneity in psychiatric symptoms experienced by sleep clinic patients. Affective and somatic disturbances were common across subgroups whilst severe psychopathology appeared in a sizeable (one in four) proportion of patients. These findings solidified the need for careful assessment of a wide range of psychiatric symptoms to inform treatment planning in sleep services.