Quality of life in patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy, narcolepsy without cataplexy, and idiopathic hypersomnia without long sleep time: Comparison between patients on psychostimulants, drug-naïve patients and the general Japanese population

Ozaki, Akiko; Inoue, Yuichi; Hayashida, Kenichi; Nakajima, Toru; Honda, Makoto; Usui, Akira; Komada, Yoko; Kobayashi, Mina; Takahashi, Kiyohisa

doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2011.07.014

« Previous Next »Sleep Medicine
Volume 13, Issue 2 , Pages 200-206, February 2012

Quality of life in patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy, narcolepsy without cataplexy, and idiopathic hypersomnia without long sleep time: Comparison between patients on psychostimulants, drug-naïve patients and the general Japanese population

Akiko Ozaki
- School of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
- Japan Somnology Centre, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
Yuichi Inoue
- Japan Somnology Centre, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
- Corresponding author at: Japan Somnology Centre, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, 1-24-10 Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0053, Japan. Tel.: +81 3 3374 9112; fax: +81 3 3374 9125.
Kenichi Hayashida
- Japan Somnology Centre, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
Toru Nakajima
- Japan Somnology Centre, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, School of Medicine, Kyorin University, Tokyo, Japan
Makoto Honda
- Japan Somnology Centre, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
- Sleep Disorder Research Project, Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
Akira Usui
- Japan Somnology Centre, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
- Faculty of Health Science Technology, Bunkyo Gakuin University, Tokyo, Japan
Yoko Komada
- Japan Somnology Centre, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Psychiatry, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
Mina Kobayashi
- Japan Somnology Centre, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
Kiyohisa Takahashi
- Japan Somnology Centre, Neuropsychiatric Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
- Japan Foundation for Neuroscience and Mental Health, Tokyo, Japan

Received 1 March 2011; received in revised form 27 July 2011; accepted 29 July 2011.

Abstract

Objective

To assess the quality of life of patients with narcolepsy with cataplexy (NA–CA), narcolepsy without cataplexy (NA w/o CA), and idiopathic hypersomnia without long sleep time (IHS w/o LST) who were taking psychostimulant medication, and to ascertain which factors (including psychosocial and environmental variables) influence quality of life in this population.

Methods

In total, 185 patients who had received regular treatment were enrolled in the study (NA–CA, n=83; NA w/o CA, n=48; IHS w/o LST, n=54). Patients were asked to complete questionnaires including the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and items concerning psychosocial and environmental variables.

Results

All three diagnostic groups had significantly lower scores for most SF-36 domains compared with the Japanese normative data, and the ESS score was significantly reduced with treatment. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that several SF-36 domains were associated with the ESS score; autonomy in controlling own job schedule, experience of divorce or break up with a partner due to symptoms, experience of being forced to relocate or being dismissed due to symptoms, and perception of support from others.

Conclusions

The severity of subjective sleepiness and psychological and environmental variables influenced quality of life in patients with these hypersomnias of central origin.

Keywords: Narcolepsy with cataplexy, Narcolepsy without cataplexy, Idiopathic hypersomnia without long sleep time, Psychostimulants, Quality of life, SF-36, Psychosocial factors, Environmental factors