Sick and Tired: Understanding and Managing Sleep Difficulties in ...
Sick and Tired: Understanding and Managing Sleep Difficulties in ...
Sick and Tired: Understanding and Managing Sleep Difficulties in ...
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It has been suggested that the autonomic nervous system (part of the body‟s stress<br />
response system) may not be work<strong>in</strong>g effectively <strong>in</strong> people with FMS. Several<br />
researchers (Mart<strong>in</strong>ez-Lav<strong>in</strong>, 2007; Zurowski & Shapiro, 2004) have also suggested that<br />
liv<strong>in</strong>g with FMS <strong>and</strong> sleep difficulties may cause <strong>in</strong>creased stress as a result of deal<strong>in</strong>g<br />
with the <strong>in</strong>creased dem<strong>and</strong>s of manag<strong>in</strong>g a chronic pa<strong>in</strong> condition. In addition,<br />
polysomnographic evidence has revealed <strong>in</strong>creased frontal cognitive activity dur<strong>in</strong>g<br />
sleep <strong>in</strong> people with FMS <strong>in</strong> comparison to controls (Horne & Shackell, 1991). Indeed,<br />
participants with FMS have described f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g it difficult to calm their m<strong>in</strong>d before<br />
sleep, suggest<strong>in</strong>g that cognitive factors may have an affect on sleep quality <strong>in</strong> people<br />
with FMS. Therefore stress is likely to <strong>in</strong>fluence sleep quality <strong>in</strong> FMS.<br />
Given the evidence that stress <strong>and</strong> beliefs about sleep may affect sleep quality, there is a<br />
need to <strong>in</strong>vestigate the role of these factors on sleep quality <strong>in</strong> FMS <strong>and</strong> to identify the<br />
factors that may <strong>in</strong>fluence the onset <strong>and</strong> ma<strong>in</strong>tenance of sleep disturbances. The present<br />
study aimed to explore whether levels of perceived stress <strong>and</strong> dysfunctional beliefs<br />
about sleep are different between people with FMS <strong>and</strong> healthy controls, <strong>and</strong> to explore<br />
the relationships between stress, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, sleep quality <strong>and</strong><br />
health related quality of life <strong>in</strong> FMS. Based on the research literature it is hypothesised<br />
that people with FMS will have significantly higher dysfunctional beliefs about sleep<br />
<strong>and</strong> greater levels of stress than healthy controls. Moreover, it is expected, that high<br />
dysfunctional beliefs about sleep <strong>and</strong> levels of stress will be significantly associated<br />
with poorer sleep quality <strong>and</strong> health related quality of life.<br />
Methods<br />
In order to identify whether perceived levels of stress <strong>and</strong> dysfunctional beliefs about<br />
sleep are important to perceived sleep quality <strong>in</strong> FMS, this study employed a case-<br />
control design. Case-control studies provide stronger evidence of cause-effect<br />
associations compared with studies only explor<strong>in</strong>g the population of <strong>in</strong>terest, as they can<br />
be used to identify factors that may contribute to a medical condition by compar<strong>in</strong>g<br />
people who have a certa<strong>in</strong> condition (cases), with patients who are similar but do not<br />
have the condition (controls) (Bl<strong>and</strong>, 2000).<br />
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