A Study on the Mental Comorbidity of Insomnia in Psychiatric Outpatients

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of psychiatric diagnoses(Axis I,II and III) using DSM-IV as well as the significances of personality traits and social of occupational functioning in a group of psychiatric outpatient insomnmiacs.

62 subjects who complained of insomnia over a 2-week period were evaluated for psychiatric and personality disorders and medical conditions by a comprehensive psychiatric diagnostic interview. Each patient also completed the MMPI test and was evaluated on GAF score.

The higher prevalence of insomnia has been reported in the age group of 21 to 50 years, married and unemployed patients in this study.

95.2% of the subjects had a principal diagnosis on Axis I and the most prevalent diagnoses were mood disorders and accompanying diagnoses were anxiety and somatoform disorders(in frequency order). 51.6% of the subjects had a principal diagnosis on Axis II and the most prevalent diagnoses were compulsive personality disorders and accompanying diagnoses were others(avoidant, dependent, and passive-aggresive) and historionic personalty disorders. 50% of the subjects had Axis III diagnoses and the most prevalent diagnoses were gastrointestinal disordrs. 72.6% of the subjects had elevated scores on one or more MMPI scales(T score of 70 or greater) and the most frequently elevated scale was the depression and accompanying scales were hysteria and hypochondriasis. The mean GAF score value of the patient was 61.65±5.64 and showed significant difference in each Axis I principal diagnoses.

In summary, strong associations between insomnia and psychiatric disorders were confirmed by this investigation