The Relationship Between Sleep Patterns, Quality of Life, and Social and Clinical Characteristics in Chinese Patients with Schizophrenia.

PURPOSE:The purpose of the study was to determine the pattern of sleep behavior in schizophrenia patients treated in primary care.DESIGN AND METHODS:Altogether 623 schizophrenia patients in 22 primary care services were recruited. Sleep duration and demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded.FINDINGS:The mean expected total sleep time was 8.8 hr (SD 1.8) and the mean actual total sleep time was 8.2 hr (SD 2.1). The frequency of short, medium, and long sleepers was 18.1, 38.4, and 43.5%, respectively. Major medical conditions and any type of insomnia were independently associated with short sleep, while long sleep was associated with unemployment and use of second-generation antipsychotics.PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS:More attention should be paid to sleep duration in this population group.