Sleep Problems and Disorders in Patients with Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety and its disorders cause distress that interferes with sleep and wakefulness. Insomnia appears to be the most common sleep disturbance associated with anxiety disorders. Nocturnal enuresis and sleep terrors tend to be more common in childhood anxiety disorders, such as separation anxiety disorder and selective mutism. Poor sleep quality is seen in adults with anxiety disorders such as specific phobia, social phobia, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Objective data obtained from polysomnograms support this claim in many instances. Nocturnal panic occurs frequently in patients with sleep apnea and may predispose to the development of panic disorder. Insomnia is a trait marker for depression, and may also be one for anxiety disorders. A thorough assessment of sleep difficulties should form an important part of the clinical evaluation of patients with anxiety symptoms. [ Psychiatr Ann . 2016;46(7):396–400.]