Sleep quality and psychosocial characteristics of patients with painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathies

Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore how pain and psychological distress influence the sleep quality of patients with painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (PPTN).

Study design: Thirty-two patients with a diagnosis of PPTN according to the International Classification for Headache Disorders of the International Headache Society were enrolled. All patients completed a number of questionnaires that examined sleep quality, psychological distress, and quality of life.

Results: The global Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score was "5" or greater in 75% of the patients. Additionally, the Symptom Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) global severity index (GSI) revealed that 71.9% of the study sample reported values of psychological distress over the level of clinical significance. Sleep quality was analyzed through a linear regression model of global PSQI (dependent variable) that included gender, age, pain intensity, and pain duration (independent variables). This model revealed a significant positive association between the PSQI global score and the SCL-90-R GSI that was independent of age, gender, pain intensity, and duration.

Conclusions: Patients with PPTN present higher levels of sleep disturbance and psychological distress compared with the general population. Sleep quality disturbances and levels of psychological distress are strongly associated and seem to be independent of age, gender, medication use, pain intensity and duration.