Fatigue, Sleep Disorders, and Excessive Sleepiness: Important Factors for Nuclear Power Shift Workers

Sleep disorders is a common problem that patients report to their doctor. They can accompany many mental and somatic disorders or be primary. There are many types of sleep disorders; most commonly, they are associated with problems with falling asleep and maintaining sleep continuity, or more complex disorders, such as parasomnias, breathing disorders and movement disorders associated with sleep. In the following work, we have focused on sleep problems in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). These patients more often than healthy people of the same age complain about sleep disorders and these disorders increase with the progress of the disease and the appearance of other symptoms. Depressed mood, chronic fatigue, pain and urinary problems significantly affect the quality of sleep in patients with MS. On the other hand, excessive sleepiness and trouble with falling asleep intensify the feeling of fatigue, which is a major problem and impair cognitive functions. However, sleep-related symptoms are often overlooked during medical visits due to other symptoms of multiple sclerosis, especially those causing motor disability. The treatment of sleep disorders in patients with MS is based on basic methods used in the general population. In the treatment of sleep disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis, appropriate disease modifying therapy is also important.

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Investigating shift work disorder among workers of Hamadan Glass Factory in 2017

Occupational Medicine ◽

10.18502/tkj.v12i4.5874 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Z Shabanian ◽

M Gholipour ◽

M Amrollahi ◽

N Hasheminejad

Keyword(s):

Sleep Disorders ◽

Shift Work ◽

Work Experience ◽

Social Life ◽

Glass Factory ◽

Social Problems ◽

Gastrointestinal Diseases ◽

Chi Square ◽

Shift Workers ◽

Other Information

Introduction: Shift work is an occupational stressor that influences some workforce. The present study examined shift work disorders among people who work in Hamadan Glass Factory. Materials and Methods: Participants included 210 workers (130 shift workers and 80 day-workers) of Hamadan Glass Factory. The survey of shift workers (SOS) was used to collect information on respondents’ demographic background, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, psychological disorders, sleep-related problems, musculoskeletal disorders, and adverse effects of shift work on individual, family, and social life. Other information was obtained by studying participating workers’ medical records in the same year. Data were analyzed using SPSS 16. Results: The results indicated significant relationships between shift work and variables such as sleeplessness, sleep quality and quantity, stomachache, and diet. Concerning background variables (age, work experience, and marital status), the results of the Kruskal-Wallis test showed a significant relationship between age and musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal disorders. Moreover, the results of the Fisher test demonstrated a significant association between work experience and social problems; but none of these background variables were connected with sleep disorders. Considering the effect of shift work (morning, evening, and night) on personal, family, social life, and alertness, chi-square results revealed significance among the three shift-work types. Incidence was higher in night shifts than in morning and evening shifts. Conclusion: The findings showed that shift work is more likely to lead to sleep disorders and gastrointestinal diseases, risk of diabetes, infectious diseases, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular disorders than day-work. Shift workers encounter more social problems than novice shift workers.

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Excessive sleepiness in patients with psychosis: An initial investigation

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0245301 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. e0245301

Author(s):

Sarah Reeve ◽

Bryony Sheaves ◽

Daniel Freeman

Keyword(s):

Sleep Disorders ◽

Psychiatric Symptoms ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Small Sample ◽

Psychotic Symptoms ◽

Future Research ◽

Significant Group ◽

Clinical Issue ◽

Excessive Sleepiness ◽

The Impact

Clinical experience indicates that excessive sleepiness and hypersomnia may be a common issue for patients with psychosis. Excessive sleepiness is typically ascribed to the sedating effects of antipsychotic medications but there may be other potential contributors such as sleep disorders and depression. Furthermore, the impact of excessive sleepiness itself on patients’ symptoms and general wellbeing is yet to be examined. The current study reports an exploratory cross-sectional between-groups comparison of patients with early psychosis fulfilling criteria assessed in a diagnostic interview for problematic excessive sleepiness (n = 14), compared with those not reporting excessive sleepiness (n = 46). There were no differences between the groups in diagnosis, medication type, or antipsychotic medication dosage. There were no significant group differences in sleep duration. Significantly lower activity levels were found in the excessive sleepiness group. Insomnia and nightmares were common in those reporting excessive sleepiness. No significant differences were found in psychiatric symptoms, although data did indicate more severe cognitive disorganisation and grandiosity, but less severe paranoia and hallucinations, in the excessive sleepiness group. Wide confidence intervals and small sample size mean that care should be taken interpreting these results. Overall, this study indicates that excessive sleepiness may not be solely related to medication but also to low levels of activity and other sleep disorders. This is a novel finding that, if replicated, could indicate routes of intervention for this clinical issue. Future research should aim to disentangle directions of effect amongst sleepiness, mood, activity, and psychotic symptoms and investigate possible interventions for excessive sleepiness in psychosis.

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Sleep Disorders Among Commercial Airline Pilots

Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance ◽

10.3357/amhp.5809.2021 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 92 (12) ◽

pp. 937-944

Author(s):

Ahmed Alzehairi ◽

Faris Alhejaili ◽

Siraj Wali ◽

Ibrahim AlQassas ◽

Mansour Balkhyour ◽

...

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Sleep Disorders ◽

Human Error ◽

Objective Assessment ◽

Primary Objective ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Shift Workers ◽

Airline Pilots ◽

Market Expansion ◽

Commercial Airline

BACKGROUND: Over the next 20 yr, international market expansion will necessitate the production of new commercial airplanes and the recruitment of additional crewmembers and technicians. Research has proven that fatigue and lack of sleep are risk factors for impaired cognitive performance and human error. Pilots frequently report fatigue to their employers, which may be related to sleep disturbance. Airline pilots, in particular, often experience circadian desynchronization and other types of sleep disorders. Shift workers have been observed to be at higher risk of fatigue that affects their performance and alertness. In Saudi Arabia, sleep disorders among airline pilots are understudied and underreported. The primary objective of this study was to screen for and determine the risk of sleep disorders, fatigue, and depression among pilots.METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological study with national commercial pilots was conducted from March 2019 to March 2020 using validated questionnaires to screen for the risk of sleep disorders, fatigue, and depression.RESULTS: In total, 344 pilots participated in the study. Half the sample was at risk for insomnia and fatigue. Older and more experienced pilots were less likely to suffer impaired sleep quality, insomnia, sleepiness, fatigue, and depression. In total, 59 (17.2%) pilots were at high risk for sleep apnea.CONCLUSION: The current study found that pilots were at risk of developing sleep disorders. A more robust and objective assessment is warranted for screening.Alzehairi A, Alhejaili F, Wali S, Al Qassas I, Balkhyour M, Pandi-Perumal SR. Sleep disorders among commercial airline pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2021; 92(12):937–944.

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Sleepiness and Sleep Disorders in Shift Workers: A Study on a Group of Italian Police Officers

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/25.6.642 ◽

2002 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Keyword(s):

Sleep Disorders ◽

Police Officers ◽

Shift Workers

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The comparison of sleep disorders among shift workers and non-shift workers in doorod hospital

Sleep Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.sleep.2013.11.428 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. e182

Author(s):

M. Bagherian Lemraski

Keyword(s):

Sleep Disorders ◽

Shift Workers

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Misdiagnosing sleep disorders as primary psychiatric conditions

Advances in Psychiatric Treatment ◽

10.1192/apt.9.1.69 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 69-77 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Gregory Stores

Keyword(s):

Sleep Disorders ◽

Sleep Apnoea ◽

Excessive Sleepiness ◽

Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome ◽

Obstructive Sleep ◽

Wide Range ◽

Delayed Sleep Phase ◽

Psychiatric Conditions ◽

Delayed Sleep ◽

Cycle Disorders

Sleep disorders are relevant to psychiatric practice in a number of ways, including the possibility that they may be misdiagnosed as fundamentally psychiatric conditions in patients of all ages. This risk exists in a wide range of collectively very common sleep disorders which need to be considered in explaining insomnia, excessive sleepiness or disturbed episodes of behaviour associated with sleep (parasomnias). Examples given include circadian sleep–wake cycle disorders (such as the delayed sleep phase syndrome), obstructive sleep apnoea, narcolepsy, Kleine–Levin syndrome, sleep paralysis and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder. Failure to recognise and treat such disorders is likely to cause and perpetuate psychological problems. Correct recognition requires familiarity with the range and manifestations of sleep disorders.

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