ABSTRACT:
Background: Depressive disorder is frequently associated with sleep disturbances, significantly
impacting patients’ quality of life and overall mental health. Understanding the extent and nature of sleepdisturbances among individuals with depression is crucial for effective management and therapeutic
interventions.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the quality of sleep among patients diagnosed with depressive disorder
presenting to a tertiary care hospital.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral
Sciences, Services Hospital, Lahore, from September 2024 to February 2025. The sample size was
calculated using the WHO sample size calculator, yielding a total of 245 cases with a 95%confidenceinterval, an absolute precision of 0.05, and an expected prevalence of sleep disturbance of 70%. Anon- probability convenient sampling technique was used to recruit participants. Data were collected throughstructured questionnaires assessing sleep quality and depressive symptoms. Statistical analysis was
performed using SPSS version 10.
Results: Among the 245 participants, a significant proportion reported sleep disturbances, includingdifficulties in sleep initiation, frequent nocturnal awakenings, and poor sleep quality. The majority of
patients exhibited moderate to severe sleep disturbances, with a strong correlation observed betweentheseverity of depressive symptoms and impaired sleep quality. Statistical analysis confirmed a significant
association between depressive disorder and various sleep parameters.
Conclusion: Patients with depressive disorder exhibited a high prevalence of sleep disturbances, underscoring the need for integrated psychiatric and sleep-focused interventions. Screening for sleepdisturbances should be an essential component of depression management to enhance patient outcomes
and quality of life.
Keywords: Depressive disorder, sleep quality, sleep disturbance, psychiatric comorbidities, tertiarycarehospital