Research Proposal: Sleep Treatment Efficacy in Schizophrenic Individuals With Severe Symptoms, Poster 38

Schizophrenia is recognized as a mental disorder that causes significant disruption to an individual’s life, especially in the presence of positive symptoms, specifically visual and auditory hallucinations. Hallucinations... [ view full abstract ]

Schizophrenia is recognized as a mental disorder that causes significant disruption to an individual’s life, especially in the presence of positive symptoms, specifically visual and auditory hallucinations. Hallucinations without a schizophrenic diagnosis are often seen to be correlated with poor sleep patterns. In the treatment of schizophrenia, clinicians generally turn to pharmacological means which can cause disruptive side effects. In this study, alternative methods of treatment specifically targeting sleep quality and patterns will be tested. Participants will be limited to individuals with schizophrenia who show significant positive symptoms of visual and/or auditory hallucinations. The 2 (Melatonin use) X 2 (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) experimental design to be described is expected to result in the improvement of participants in one or all the subjective and objective measures. Dependent variables to be considered and analyzed are sleep duration, sleep quality, perceived quality of life and frequency and severity of visual and auditory hallucinatory events. If supported, these results will indicate new treatment possibilities with the potential to treat sleep disorders in schizophrenic individuals, down-regulate symptoms related to the mental illness and improve quality of life.