Sleep patterns in a randomized controlled trial of auricular acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia

The aim of the study was to objectively examine how sleep patterns were affected in a short- and long-term perspective after auricular acupuncture (AA) and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-i). Sixty participants with insomnia disorders (men/women 9/51; mean age of 60.5 years, (SD 9.4)), were randomized to group treatment with AA or CBT-i. Actigraphy recordings were made at baseline, post-treatment and 6-month follow-up. The CBT-i group reduced their time in bed, their actual sleeping time, their sleep latency and their actual time awake. The AA group slept longer, increased their time in bed and decreased their sleep latency post-treatment. The between-groups results differed in wake-up time, rising, time in bed, actual sleep time and actual wake time. The differences were not maintained six months later. In accordance with previous findings the results support the notion that the objective sleep time does not necessarily affect the subjective perception of insomnia.     

Actigraphy in the Assessment of Insomnia: A Quantitative Approach

Study Objective:

The lack of quantitative criteria for identifying insomnia using actigraphy represents an unresolved limit for the use of actigraphy in a clinical setting. The current study was conducted to evaluate the most efficient actigraphic parameter in the assessment of insomnia and to suggest preliminary quantitative actigraphic criteria (QAC).

Participants and Measurements:

Performing a retrospective study we recovered 408 actigraphic records from 3 sleep measure databases: 2 regarding insomnia patients (n = 126) and one normal sleepers (n = 282). We compared the 2 samples analyzing the following actigraphic sleep parameters: time in bed (TIB), sleep onset latency (SOL), total sleep time (TST), wake after sleep onset (WASO), sleep efficiency percentage (SE%), number of awakenings longer than 5 minutes (NA > 5) and mean motor activity (MA). Moreover, a linear discriminant function (LDF) was developed to identify and combine the most useful actigraphic sleep parameters to separate insomnia patients from normal sleepers. Using Youden index we calculated the preliminary QAC for each actigraphic sleep parameter and for LDF. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves for classifying the accuracy of QAC were performed.

Results:

All sleep parameters recorded by actigraphy significantly differentiated the 2 groups, except TIB. An LDF analysis showed that the most useful combination of actigraphic sleep parameters to assess insomnia was TST, SOL, and NA > 5, which obtained the best ROC and the best balance between positive and negative predictive values compared to any single actigraphic parameter.

Conclusion:

Actigraphy provided a satisfactory objective measurement of sleep quality in insomnia patients. The combination of TST, SOL, and NA > 5 proved the best way to assess insomnia using actigraphy. Acknowledging that the lack of a technological standard and some methodological limitations prevent us generalizing our results, we recommend additional studies on larger populations using different actigraph models.

Citation:

Natale V; Plazzi G; Martoni M. Actigraphy In The Assessment Of Insomnia: A Quantitative Approach. SLEEP 2009;32(6):767–771.     

A rest-activity biomarker to predict response to SSRIs in major depressive disorder

Most adults with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) will not experience a remission with the first antidepressant trial. No practical biomarkers presently exist to predict responsiveness to antidepressants. Herein we report pilot data for a rest-activity biomarker of antidepressant response.Fifty-eight medication-free adults with MDD underwent a week-long collection of actigraphic data before beginning a 9 week open label trial of fluoxetine, coupled with blinded randomized assignment to eszopiclone/placebo. Depression severity was repeatedly measured with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). Baseline actigraphic data was analyzed with functional data analysis to create smoothed 24-h curves of activity. The time of the lowest point of activity (the bathyphase) was calculated for each patient, as well the mean difference between bedtime and the bathyphase (BBD). At the end of treatment, patients were characterized as treatment responders (50% reduction in HRSD) or non-responders, and receiver operating curves were calculated to find the optimal cut point of the BBD for prediction of treatment response.The best cut point for BBD was at 260.2 min, resulting in an effect size of 1.45, and with a positive predictive value of 0.75 and a negative predictive value of 0.88.We conclude that actigraphically-determined measures of rest-activity patterns show promise as potential biomarker predictors of antidepressant response. However, this conclusion is based upon a small number of patients who received only one choice of antidepressant, for a single trial. Replication with a larger sample is needed.     

Physical activity of patients with critical illness undergoing rehabilitation in intensive care and on the acute ward: An observational cohort study

BackgroundThere are limited published data on physical activity of survivors of critical illness engaged in rehabilitation in hospital, despite it plausibly influencing outcome.ObjectiveThe aims of this study were to measure physical activity of patients with critical illness engaged in rehabilitation in the intensive care unit (ICU) and on the acute ward and report discharge destination, muscle strength, and functional outcomes.MethodsThis was a single-centre, prospective observational study. Adults with critical illness, who received ≥48 h of invasive mechanical ventilation, and who were awake and able to participate in rehabilitation were eligible. To record physical activity, participants wore BodyMedia SenseWear Armbands (BodyMedia Incorporated, USA), during daylight hours, from enrolment until hospital discharge or day 14 of ward stay (whichever occurred first). The primary outcome was time (minutes) spent performing physical activity at an intensity of greater than 1.5 Metabolic Equivalent Tasks. Secondary outcomes included discharge destination, muscle strength, and physical function.ResultsWe collected 807 days of physical activity data (363 days ICU, 424 days ward) from 59 participants. Mean (standard deviation) duration of daily physical activity increased from the ICU, 17.8 (22.8) minutes, to the ward, 52.8 (51.2) minutes (mean difference [95% confidence interval] = 35 [23.8–46.1] minutes, P < .001). High levels of activity in the ICU were associated with higher levels of activity on the ward (r = .728), n = 48, P < .001.ConclusionsPatients recovering from critical illness spend less than 5% of the day being physically active throughout hospital admission, even when receiving rehabilitation. Physical activity increased after discharge from intensive care, but had no relationship with discharge destination. Only the absence of ICU-acquired weakness on awakening was associated with discharge directly home from the acute hospital. Future studies could target early identification of ICU-acquired weakness and the preservation of muscle strength to improve discharge outcomes.     

Physiotherapy for Sleep Disturbance in People With Chronic Low Back Pain: Results of a Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective

To determine the feasibility of a randomized controlled trial investigating the effectiveness of physiotherapy for sleep disturbance in chronic low back pain (CLBP) (≥12wks).

Design

Randomized controlled trial with evaluations at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months.

Setting

Outpatient physiotherapy department in an academic teaching hospital.

Participants

Participants with CLBP were randomly assigned to a walking program (n=20; mean age ± SD, 46.4±13.8y), supervised exercise class (n=20; mean age ± SD, 41.3±11.9y), or usual physiotherapy (n=20; mean age ± SD, 47.1±14.3y). The 3-month evaluation was completed by 44 participants (73%), and 42 (70%) participants completed the 6-month evaluation.

Interventions

Participants received a physiotherapy-delivered 8-week walking program, an 8-week group supervised exercise class (1 class/wk), or 1-to-1 usual physiotherapy (advice, manual therapy, and exercise).

Main Outcome Measures

Sleep was assessed by the self-reported Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Diary, and objective actigraphy.

Results

Groups were comparable at baseline. Most (95%, n=57) of the participants had sleep disturbance. The acceptability of actigraphy was excellent at baseline (58 of 60 participants), but dropped at 3 months (26 of 44 participants). There were improvements on the PSQI and ISI in all groups at 3 and 6 months, with predominantly medium effect sizes (Cohen d=0.2–0.5).

Conclusions

The high prevalence of sleep disturbance indicated the feasibility of good recruitment in future trials. The PSQI would be a suitable screening tool and outcome measure alongside an objective nonobtrusive sleep outcome measure. The effectiveness of physiotherapy for sleep disturbance in CLBP warrants investigation in a fully powered randomized controlled trial.     

Actigraphy： A new diagnostic tool for hepatic encephalopathy

AIM: To assess the actigraphy, an ambulatory and continuous monitoring of wrist motor activity fitted to study sleep/wake patterns in hepatic encephalopathy (HE). METHODS: Twenty-five cirrhotic patients (17 M, 8 F, mean age 56+/-11 years, 24/25 alcoholic, Child-Pugh A , B, C: 2, 6, 17) were included. The patients were classified into 3 groups: stage 0 group (n = 12), stage 1-2 group (n = 6), and stage 3-4 group (n = 7) of encephalopathy. Over three consecutive days, patients had clinical evaluation 3 times a day with psychometric test, venous ammoniemia, flash visually evoked potentials (VEP), electroencephalogram and continuous actigraphic monitoring for 3 d, providing 5 parameters: mesor, amplitude, acrophase, mean duration of activity (MDAI) and inactivity (MDII) intervals. RESULTS: Serum ammonia and VEP did not differ among the 3 groups. Electroencephalography mean dominant frequency (MDF) correlated significantly with clinical stages of HE (r = 0.65, P = 0.003). The best correlation with HE stage was provided by actigraphy especially with MDAI (r = 0.7, P < 10(-4)) and mesor (r = 0.65, P < 10(-4)). MDAI correlated significantly with MDF (r = 0.62, 0.004) and was significantly shorter in case of HE compared to patients without HE (stage 0: 5.33+/-1.6 min; stage 1-2: 3.28+/-1.4 min; stage 3-4: 2.52+/-1.1 min; P < 0.05). Using a threshold of MDAI of less than 4.9 min, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value for HE diagnosis were 85%, 67%, 73% and 80%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Actigraphy may be an objective method to identify HE, especially for early HE detection. Motor activity at the wrist correlates well with clinical stages of HE. MDAI and mesor are the most relevant parameters.     

A sleep study in cluster headache

Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache with a close relation to sleep. CH presents a circa-annual rhythmicity; attacks occur preferably during the night, in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and they are associated with autonomic and neuroendocrine modifications. The posterior hypothalamus is the key structure for the biological phenomenon of CH. Our aim is to describe a 55-year-old man presenting a typical episodic CH, in whom we performed a prolonged sleep study, consisting of a 9-week actigraphic recording and repeated polysomnography, with evaluation of both sleep macrostructure and microstructure. During the acute bout of the cluster we observed an irregular sleep-wake pattern and abnormalities of REM sleep. After the cluster phase these alterations remitted. We conclude that CH was associated, in this patient, with sleep dysregulation involving the biological clock and the arousal mechanisms, particularly in REM. All these abnormalities are consistent with posterior hypothalamic dysfunction.     

Interpreting Wrist Actigraphic Indices of Sleep in Epidemiologic Studies of the Elderly: The Study of Osteoporotic Fractures

Introduction:

Although wrist actigraphy-derived sleep indices correlate with adverse health outcomes, it is unclear whether these indices identify specific sleep disorders.

Methods:

Overnight polysomnography and ≥ three 24-h periods of wrist actigraphy were performed in the Study of Osteoporotic Fractures (SOF) (n = 455, age: 73–96 y). Actigraphy identified those with reduced sleep efficiency (SE, < 70%) and decreased sleep duration (≤ 5 h). Sleep disorders considered were: (1) sleep-disordered breathing (SDB): respiratory disturbance index ≥ 15 and (2) periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD): periodic limb movement-arousal index ≥ 5. Multivariable logistic regression analyses modeled each sleep disorder as the dependent variable with wrist actigraphy measures, age, race, medication use, depression, body mass index, activity, mental status, and comorbidity as independent variables.

Results:

In multivariable models, poor SE derived from wrist actigraphy was associated with 2.4-fold higher odds of SDB (OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.43–4.14) and PLMD (OR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.34–4.15). Reduced sleep duration was associated with 3.2-fold higher odds of SDB (OR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.51–6.68), and a 3.8-fold higher odds of PLMD (OR = 3.77, 95% CI: 1.78–17.95).

Conclusions:

In elderly women, wrist actigraphy-ascertained reduced SE and sleep duration are associated with objective measures of SDB and PLMD. Thus, although not able to discriminate between the different sleep disorders, variations in wrist actigraphy measures collected in epidemiologic studies may identify individuals at higher risk of SDB or PLMD.

Citation:

Mehra R; Stone KL; Ancoli-Israel S; Litwack-Harrison S; Ensrud KE; Redline S. Interpreting wrist actigraphic indices of sleep in epidemiologic studies of the elderly: the study of osteoporotic fractures. SLEEP 2008;31(11):1569–1576.     

Investigation of sleep disturbance in chronic low back pain: an age- and gender-matched case-control study over a 7-night period

Sleep disturbance is frequently reported by people with chronic low back pain (>12 weeks; CLBP), but few studies have comprehensively investigated sleep in this population. This study investigated differences in subjectively and objectively measured sleep patterns of people with CLBP, and compared this to age- and gender matched controls. Thirty-two consenting participants (n = 16 with CLBP, n = 16 matched controls), aged 24–65 years (43.8% male) underwent an interview regarding sleep influencing variables, completed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Insomnia Severity Index, Pittsburgh Sleep Diary, SF36-v2, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Oswestry Disability Index, Numerical Pain Rating Scales, and underwent seven consecutive nights of actigraphic measurement in the home environment. Compared to controls, people with CLBP had, on self-report measures, significantly poorer sleep quality [Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (range 0–21) mean (SD) 10.9 (4.2)], clinical insomnia [Insomnia Severity Index mean (range 0–28) 13.7 (7.6)], lower sleep efficiency, longer sleep onset latency, more time awake after sleep onset, and more awakenings during sleep (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences between groups were found on objective actigraphy (p > 0.05). The findings provide some evidence to support self-reported sleep assessment as an outcome measure in CLBP research, while further research is needed to determine the validity of objective sleep measurement in this population.     

Sleep in Paralympic athletes and its relationship with injuries and illnesses

ObjectivesTo evaluate sleep characteristics and investigate the relationship of sleep with injuries and illnesses in Paralympic athletes.DesignCross-sectional.SettingSports Training Center.Participants20 Paralympic athletes of athletics, swimming, and powerlifting.OutcomesInjury and illnesses were recorded during the sports season through the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center questionnaire (OSTRC-BR). Sleep-wake pattern was monitored for 2 weeks using actigraphy. Chronotype, sleep quality, sleep behavior, and sleep complaints were cross-sectionally collected.ResultsPoor sleep quality and poor sleep behavior were highly prevalent. The mean total sleep time was 6.57 ± 49.91. Duration of naps (r= −0.46; p=0.04) was associated with occurrence of health problems; frequency of insomnia (r= 0.51; p= 0.02), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score (r= 0.45; p=0.04), and frequency of awakenings at night (r= 0.58; p= 0.01) were associated with severity of health problems; frequency of movements during sleep was associated with OSTRC-BR cumulative score (r= 0.58; p=0.00); and frequency of nightmares was associated with OSTRC mean score.ConclusionsParalympic athletes tend to report poor sleep quality, have poor sleep behavior and sleep less than the recommended. Insomnia symptoms, awakenings at night, movements during sleep and poor sleep quality were associated with the occurrence and/or severity of health problems.