Influence of White Sound on Sleep Quality, Anxiety, and Depression in Patients with Schizophrenia

Background: Patients with schizophrenia frequently experience issues such as poor sleep quality, anxiety, and depression. White sound has been identified as a potential therapeutic strategy to enhance sleep quality and alleviate negative emotions. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of white sound in improving sleep quality, anxiety, and depression among patients with schizophrenia. Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis included clinical data from 212 patients with schizophrenia divided into two groups based on their treatment approach. Group C (control, without white sound, n = 106) received standard pharmacological treatments, while group W (white sound, n = 106) was exposed to white sound (40-50 dB) for 2 hours nightly at 9:00 pm. All patients were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA), and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) before and after 12 weeks of intervention. Results: After 12 weeks, group W showed significant improvements in sleep latency, sleep efficiency, and overall PSQI scores compared to group C (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the HAMD and HAMA scores were significantly lower in group W (P < 0.05), indicating reduced levels of anxiety and depression. The negative symptoms score was significantly lower in group W (P < 0.05) after treatment. Conclusion: White sound shows promise in improving sleep quality, and alleviating anxiety and depression in patients with schizophrenia.