Psychiatric evaluation in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) might cause neuropsychiatric problems as well as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications. Daily life of the patients are effected and their quality of life decreases. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate anxiety and depression and to test their ability to cope with strees in patients with OSAS. Materials and Methods: The patients with OSAS suspect admitting to our sleep laboratuary, were classed as simple snoring, mild-moderate and severe OSAS according to their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). Hospital anxiety and depression, stres coping and skill loss scales were applied to the patients accepted to participate to the study. Results: Fifty four patients participated into the study. Forty-one (75.9%) were OSAS and 13 (24.1%) were simple snoring (control group). Mean age was 52.3 +/- 9.2 years in OSAS group, while it was 50.5 +/- 9.9 years in control group. Snoring was found in every patient of two groups. Thirty-one (79.5%) patients with OSAS had witnessed apneas and 23 (60.5%) had exceesive OSAS patients had excessive daytime sleepiness. There was no significant differences in age, BMI, sleep efficency, HAD and skill loss scales between both groups. Autism was found higher in OSAS group with stres coping test (p=0.031). Moreover, social support necessicity was found higher in moderate and severe OSAS patients. Conclusion: We found that neuropsyhiatric problems are highly seen in moderate and severe OUAS patients.