Chronotype and anxiety are associated in patients with chronic primary insomnia

Sixty-four patients (50 women) with mean age 43.9±8.1 years were investigated with the Horne and Östberg Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

Results:

Significant negative correlations of chronotype-MEQ score with STAI state-anxiety (r = -0.40, p < 0.05), STAI trait-anxiety (r = -0.40, p < 0.05), and STAI pre-sleep state anxiety (r = -0.30, p < 0.05) were observed. Eveningness preference was associated with higher trait, state, and pre-sleep state anxiety.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that chronotype may be an important parameter to identifying the origin and significance of a vicious anxiety-insomnia-depression cycle in patients with chronic primary insomnia.

Chronotype; insomnia; anxiety; eveningness; State-Trait Anxiety Inventory

Variable	Female (n=50)	Male (n=14)	Total (n=64)
Age (years)	43.3±7.9	46.0±8.6	43.9±8.1
Duration of insomnia (years)	7.7±7.6	7.6±7.3	7.6±7.5
MEQ questionnaire (score)	55.9±11.9	54.6±10.5	55.7±11.6
STAI
Trait (score)	41.6±9.2	47.1±9.9	42.8±9.6
State (score)	39.9±8.9	37.5±7.1	39.4±8.6
State, pre-sleep (score)	38.6±9.7	38.8±8.2	38.6±9.3

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[1] Correspondence: Giselle S. Passos, BR 364, km 195, n° 3800, CEP 75801-615, Jataí, GO, Brazil. E-mail: passos.gs@gmail.com