Worsening sleep quality across the lifespan and persistent sleep disturbances in persons with opioid use disorder

Study Objectives: Individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) may experience worsening sleep quality over time, and a subset of individuals may have sleep disturbances that precede opioid use and do not resolve following abstinence. The purpose of the present study was to (1) collect retrospective reports of sleep across the lifespan and (2) identify characteristics associated with persistent sleep disturbance and changes in sleep quality in persons with OUD. Methods: Adults with OUD (n = 154) completed a cross-sectional study assessing current and past sleep disturbance, opioid use history, and chronic pain. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to examine changes in retrospectively reported sleep quality, and whether changes varied by screening positive for insomnia and/or chronic pain. Multivariate linear regression analyses were used to identify additional correlates of persistent sleep disturbance. Results: Participants reported that their sleep quality declined over their lifespan. Changes in reported sleep over time varied based on whether the individual screened positive for co-occurring insomnia and/or chronic pain. In regression analyses, female sex (beta = 0.16, P = .042), a greater number of treatment episodes (beta = 0.20, P = .024), and positive screens for chronic pain (beta = 0.19, P = .018) and insomnia (beta=0.22, P = .013) were associated with self-reported persistent sleep disturbance. Only a portion of participants who screened positive for sleep disorders had received a formal diagnosis. Conclusions: OUD treatment providers should routinely screen for co-occurring sleep disturbance and chronic pain. Interventions that treat co-occurring OUD, sleep disturbance, and chronic pain are needed.

Automated summary

This study aimed to investigate the characteristics associated with sleep quality and sleep disturbances in individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). The study found that sleep quality declined over time and persistent sleep disturbance was correlated with female sex, a greater number of treatment episodes, and positive screens for chronic pain and insomnia. Regular screening for sleep disturbances and chronic pain in OUD patients is recommended, and interventions addressing OUD, sleep disturbance, and chronic pain concurrently are needed.