Impact of shiftwork on sleep and psychological health.
Objective: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the impact of a rapid shiftwork system on sleep parameters and on psychopathological status among a sample of nurses. We hypothesize that in this type of shiftwork system, the rapid and continuous rotation of shifts doesn't lead to a lasting alteration of circadian rhythm but to a transitory increase of psychological disturbances after the night shift.
Methods: The population studied was the permanently employed staff of a public hospital in Modena. We recruited fifty-five workers. Participation was entirely voluntary. Every subject was given a self-administered questionnaire divided into three sections. Section I consisting in a base-line evaluation (sociodemographic data, use of psychotropic substances, General Health Questionnaire and Maslash Burnout Inventory). Sections II and III providing an evaluation of sleep and psychopathological parameters (Sleep Diary and Symptom Questionnaire) in two different moments during the shiftwork: respectively after the night following the night shift (corresponding to the end of the shift cycle), and after the night following the last day off (corresponding to the beginning of a new shift cycle).
Results: There were no significative differences in sleep parameters between the two moments of assessment. Regarding psychopathological features we found a reduction of SQ-Somatization (P = 0.002), SQ-Anxiety (p = 0.006) and SQ-Hostility (p = 0.075) subscale score at the end of the shift cycle.
Conclusions: We confirm this type of shiftwork as not causing alterations of sleep parameters. We explain the improvement in psychopathological symptoms noted at the end of the shift cycle with the favourable psychological attitude of workers in the perspective of time off. The present data suggest that the psychological attitude of workers may play an important role in the clinical expression of psychopathological features.