Evaluation of Sleep Quality and Quality of Life in Female Adolescents with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Related to Sexual Abuse

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the sleep quality of adolescents with PTSD related to sexual abuse and to investigate the relationship between sleep quality, PTSD symptoms, and quality of life. Our study was designed as a cross-sectional study.

Materials and Method: Forty adolescents who were diagnosed with PTSD related to sexual abuse and 40 healthy adolescents as a control group were included in the study. Structured interview scale Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for Children and Adolescents (CAPS-CA) were applied to children by the clinician. All participants also filled out the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI).

Results: The analyses of the data revealed that the quality of life scores of the case group was significantly associated with worse results. Sleeplessness index (ISI) and morning sleepiness scores (ESS) were higher in the case group than the control group (P < .001;  P < .001) and perceived quality of sleep (PSQI) was determined to be lower (P < .001). A statistically significant relationship between PTSD total score and PSQI (P < .001; r = 0.550), ESS (P < .05; r = 0.369), ISI (P < .001; r = 0.613), and PedsQL (P < .001; r = -0.473) were identified. PSQI, ESS, and ISI were also found to be correlated with each other (PSQI, ESS r = 488; PSQI, ISI r = 0.755; ESS and ISI r = 0.514). Moreover, PSQI scores explain the deterioration in quality of life more significantly than CAPS-CA-TOTAL scores (PSQI P = .008; CAPS P = .572).

Conclusion: In cases with PTSD related to sexual abuse, we found that sleep affects the quality of life more than the symptoms of PTSD. Sleep-based approaches in PTSD may affect both quality of life and functionality positively, and PSQI may be used in clinical practice to assess both sleep and quality of life in the follow up of patients with PTSD related to sexual abuse.

Cite this article as: Sarıgedik E, Yurteri N. Evaluation of sleep quality and quality of life in female adolescents with post-traumatic stress disorder related to sexual abuse. Psychiatr Clin Psychopharmacol. 2021; 31: 90-97.