Poor sleep behaviors may increase the risk of schizophrenia: results from a study of population in southern China

Abstract Objective: There is a strong correlation between sleep disorders and schizophrenia. However, current research has mainly focused on the treatment of sleep disorders in schizophrenic patients. Our study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of sleep behaviors on schizophrenia from a preventive perspective and to explore optimal sleep patterns. Methods: Based on a hospital case-control study, Logistic regression analysis, interaction analysis, Restricted cubic spline and subject work characteristic curves were used to study the relationship between sleep behaviors and schizophrenia. Sleep scores (including unhealthy sleep factors: sleep deprivation at night, insomnia, snoring, nighttime sleep patterns and excessive daytime sleepiness) were constructed and assessed. Results: After adjusting for confounders, we found that sleep duration was less than 6 hours at night (OR=2.45, 95%CI: 1.67-3.58), sleep quality was poor (OR=3.26, 95%CI: 1.87-5.69), and irregular getting up (OR=4.07, 95%CI: 2.67-6.19) and occasional napping (OR=2.06, 95%CI: 1.12-3.81) were risk factors for schizophrenia. The length and quality of sleep at night, the length of sleep at night and the pattern of napping are also risk factors for developing schizophrenia. Finally, the optimal sleep pattern is the morning sleep pattern, with six to nine hours of sleep a night, good sleep quality, no daytime sleepiness, and no snoring. Conclusions: Poor sleep behaviors is associated with the development of schizophrenia. Through a comprehensive assessment of poor sleep behaviors, we can obtain optimal sleep patterns. This study highlights the importance of sleep behaviors and provides a new perspective on the prevention and treatment of schizophrenia.