Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. Disturbed Sleep in Ecstasy Users reported by Partners/Roommates

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1 Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry Disturbed Sleep in Ecstasy Users reported by Partners/Roommates Journal: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry Manuscript ID: ANP R Manuscript Type: Letter Date Submitted by the Author: n/a Complete List of Authors: Ogeil, Rowan; Monash University, Psychology and Psychiatry Rajaratnam, Shantha; Monash University, Psychology and Psychatry Broadbear, Jillian; Monash University, Psychology and Psychatry Keywords: sleep disturbances, ecstasy, sleep quality

2 Page of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 0 Disturbed Sleep in Ecstasy Users reported by Partners/Roommates Rowan P. Ogeil *, Shantha M.W. Rajaratnam, & Jillian H. Broadbear School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton VIC 00. * Address for Correspondence: Rowan P. Ogeil, School of Psychology and Psychiatry, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 00, Australia. Phone: +-0- Fax: + Rowan.Ogeil@monash.edu Running Title: Disturbed sleep in ecstasy users. Acknowledgements: Rowan Ogeil was in receipt of a postgraduate publications award from Monash University while preparing and writing this article.

3 Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry Page of 0 Despite reports of decreased ecstasy use, Australians still report the highest prevalence of ecstasy use in the world, with.% - % of the adult population reporting lifetime use (Sindicich et al. 0), and in of those aged 0- years reporting use in the past year (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 0). Ecstasy use is associated with clinically significant decrements in sleep quality, even after controlling for polydrug use (Ogeil et al. 0). However, the subjective nature of userreported sleep quality suggests a need for corroborating evidence. One source of evidence is the ecstasy user s partner/roommate. Obtaining this external perspective may identify additional sleep events that are not evident to the user, facilitating the explanation as to why drug use may be negatively impacting quality of life (Breugelmans et al. 00). We investigated the prevalence of commonly reported sleep disturbances in a sample of ecstasy users (n=; mean age. years, SD.), as reported by their roommates/partners. Data were collected using the supplementary questions of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)(Buysse et al. ). The relationship between roommate/partner ratings of sleep disturbance and user-reported sleep quality (PSQI) was also assessed. Table shows the frequency with which roommates/partners rated ecstasy users as exhibiting symptoms associated with disturbed sleep during the past month. These symptoms were correlated with users self-assessed sleep quality. Global PSQI score was significantly correlated with partner-reported: long pauses between breaths (r=., p <.0), legs twitching or jerking (r=., p <.0); and episodes of disorientation or confusion (r=., p <.0) during sleep in ecstasy users. Global PSQI score was not significantly related with partner ratings of loud snoring. These results demonstrate that many ecstasy users display signs of sleep disturbance that can be corroborated by others. Previously we have reported that ecstasy users who had been told to cut down their use by a family member, friend or healthcare professional were more likely to suffer from a clinically relevant sleep disturbance (Ogeil et al. 0). The lowmoderate correlations between the observations of others and self-reported sleep ratings suggest that ecstasy users may not be aware of these disturbances. Therefore clinical

4 Page of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 0 interventions designed to address sleep problems within this group would benefit from consultation with ecstasy-users roommate/partner.

5 Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry Page of 0 Table. Frequency of adverse events (percent of respondents) during sleep reported by ecstasy user s partners/ roommates Event Loud snoring (n=) Long Pauses Between Breaths (n=) Legs Twitching or Jerking (n=) Episodes of Disorientation or confusion during sleep (n=) Other noted Disturbance * (n=) Not During the past month < Once per week Once or more per week or more times per week (.%) (.%) (.%) (.%) (.%) (.0%) (.%) (.%) (.%) (.%) (.%) (.%) (.%) (0.%) (.%) (.0%) (.0%) (0.0%) (.0%) (.0%) * Of the responses noting other, n= provided a description, with the most common responses being sleep talking n= and bad dreams n=.

6 Page of Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry 0 References Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (0). 0 National Drug Strategy Household Survey report. Drug statistics series no.. Canberra: author. Breugelmans JG, Ford DE, Smith PL and Punjabi NM (00) Differences in Patient and Bed Partner assessed Quality of Life in Sleep-disordered Breathing. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine : -. Buysse DJ, Reynolds, C.F, Monk TH, Berman SR and Kupfer DJ () The Pittsburgh sleep quality index: A new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry Research : -. Ogeil RP, Rajaratnam SMW, Phillips JG, Redman JR and Broadbear JH (0) Ecstasy use and self-reported disturbances in sleep. Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental (): -. Sindicich N, Scott L, Keates A, Rijnart, J and Burns L (0) What consumers are using now: which drug is on top? Feasibility study of regular stimulant users'. EDRS Bulletin: December, pp..