In a study published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh described patterns of sleep disturbances and irregularities in daily rhythms of rest and activity across patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder, or SSD.

The researchers discovered that people with SSD who live in psychiatric facilities as well as those who manage their condition in outpatient settings have irregular sleep patterns, dysregulated transitions between sleep and wake cycles, and excessively rigid daily routines. They explained that all of these factors are indicators of the worsening of SSD symptoms. They also added that these factors are associated with a lower quality of life.

For the study, the researchers enrolled 250 patients, out of whom almost 150 were residents of a facility. The researchers measured patient activity and rest patterns throughout the 24 hours by asking them to wear a wristband that detects movement and acceleration.

The findings of the study showed that both residential and outpatient SSD patients had fewer active hours during the day. They spent most of the day sleeping or passively resting in comparison to healthy controls.

They also noted that residential patients had more fragmented sleep and more abrupt transitions between rest and activity compared to the outpatient group. Residential patients also displayed more rigid rhythms of daily rest and activity when compared to outpatients.

These measures were further associated with an increased risk of negative mental health symptoms, including reduced motivation to interact with others and a blunted capacity for feeling pleasure. 

(Source:https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/brain-health-schizophrenia-patients-symptoms-grow-by-disrupted-sleep-wakefulness-trends-heres-what-study-says-101684052095208.html )