Biological Rhythms, Sleep Disturbances, and Women’s Mental Health: Findings From a Psychiatric Inpatient Unit

Objective: Sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions are common in neuropsychiatric disorders, correlating with symptom severity, relapse rates, and poor treatment response. Women experience higher rates of sleep disturbances than men due to biological, social, and psychological factors. However, data on sleep issues in hospitalized female psychiatric patients remain limited. This study assessed sleep patterns in female psychiatric inpatients at admission and discharge and identified factors influencing changes in sleep quality. Methods: Ninety female psychiatric inpatients were evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Insomnia Severity Index and Biological Rhythm Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry at both admission and discharge. Sociodemographic data, psychiatric diagnoses, and treatment details were collected through structured interviews. Data were analyzed using SPSS 22.0. Results: At admission, 87.8% of patients reported poor sleep quality, which decreased to 63.3% at discharge. Despite improvement, significant sleep disturbances persisted. Poor sleep quality at discharge was associated with higher benzodiazepine use, unemployment, family history of sleep disorders, and frequent hospitalizations. No significant differences were found across psychiatric diagnoses. Age correlated positively with sleep medication use. Disruptions in circadian rhythms were strongly linked to poorer sleep quality and higher insomnia severity. Conclusion: Sleep disturbances persist in female psychiatric inpatients despite treatment and are influenced by sociodemographic, clinical, and circadian rhythm factors. Targeted, gender-specific interventions addressing biological, psychological, and social contributors, including circadian irregularities, may improve treatment outcomes, reduce hospitalizations, and enhance patient care in psychiatric settings.