Poor sleep quality is considered to be a common factor in psychiatric disorders. A ‘sleep laboratory’ that has begun functioning at the Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (IMHANS), Kozhikode, is doing research on the patterns of sleep deficit.
One in seven individuals is believed to have psychiatric disorders in India. The increased prevalence is observed in States such as Kerala with a high socio-demographic index. Sources in IMHANS said that unlike other diseases, psychiatric disorders are heterogeneous and complex, making clinical management extremely difficult. Understanding the clinical, biological, psychological and sociological determinants of such disorders is essential for deciding effective treatment strategies. Understanding the pattern of sleep deficit would help devise strategies to treat psychiatric disorders by managing sleep, they said.
