Sleep quality in people with multiple sclerosis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21527/2176-7114.2026.51.15600Keywords:
Multiple Sclerosis, Nervous System Diseases, Sleep, Sleep Quality, Health StrategiesAbstract
Introduction: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic neurological autoimmune condition marked by damage to the myelin sheath, resulting in impaired transmission of nerve impulses and a wide range of symptoms, including sleep disorders. Objectives: to assess sleep quality in people with MS according to the parameters established by the Mini Sleep Questionnaire and based on the participants' own perceptions. Method: quantitative, qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory research conducted in a virtual environment. Data collection took place between March and April 2023 through the following instruments: 1) Sociodemographic and clinical characterization; 2) Mini Sleep Questionnaire; 3) Guiding questions. Quantitative data were analyzed and presented descriptively, while qualitative data were examined through Thematic Analysis. Results: A total of 56 people with multiple sclerosis participated, mostly women, white, between 18 and 39 years old. Most reported relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, with up to five years since diagnosis, and were undergoing pharmacological treatment. The most frequent symptoms included tingling, weakness, walking difficulties, and urinary or intestinal dysfunction. Forty-seven participants presented sleep-related difficulties, among whom 7 had mild sleep difficulty, 7 moderate, and 33 severe sleep difficulty. Three thematic categories were identified: “Sleep quality as perceived by people with multiple sclerosis”; “Pharmacological strategies related to sleep quality adopted by people with multiple sclerosis”; and “Nonpharmacological strategies related to sleep quality adopted by people with multiple sclerosis”. Conclusion: People with multiple sclerosis exhibit sleep disturbances and employ strategies aimed at improving sleep quality.
References
1 Shull C, Hoyle B, Iannotta C, Fletcher E, Curan M, Cipollone V. A current understanding of multiple sclerosis. Jaapa. 2020;33(2):19-23. doi:10.1097/01.jaa.0000651716.72042.21.
2 Walton C, King R, Rechtman L, Kaye W, Leray E, Marrie RA et al. Rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis worldwide: insights from the Atlas of MS, third edition. Mult Scler J. 2020;26(14):1816-1821. doi:10.1177/1352458520970841.
3Klineova S, Lublin FD. Clinical course of multiple sclerosis. Cold Spring Harb Persp Med. 2018;8(9):a028928. doi:10.1101/cshperspect.a028928.
4Oh J, Vidal-Jordana A, Montalban X. Multiple sclerosis: clinical aspects. Curr Opin Neurol. 2018;31(6):752-9. doi: 10.1097/WCO.0000000000000622.
5Bamer A, Johnson K, Amtmann D, Kraft G. Prevalence of sleep problems in individuals with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler J. 2008;14(8):1127-30. doi: 10.1177/1352458508092807.
6Afifi L. Demyelinating diseases and sleep–update. Sleep Circadian Rhythms. 2023, 6(2):320-329. doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-822963-7.00057-8
7Foschi M, Rizzo G, Liguori R, Avoni P, Mancinelli L, Lugaresi A, et al. Sleep-related disorders and their relationship with MRI findings in multiple sclerosis. Sleep Med. 2019;56:90-7. doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2019.01.010.
8Foundation NS [Internet]. Physical health and sleep. c2022. [cited 2023 Aug] Available from: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health.
9Zomer J. Mini Sleep Questionnaire (MSQ) for screening large populations for EDS complaints. Sleep'84. 1985.
10Gorestein C, Tavares S, Aloe F. Sleep self-evaluation questionnaires. Clinical evaluation scales in psychiatry and psycopharmacology. Sao Paulo: Lemos; 2000. p. 423-34.
11Falavigna A, de Souza Bezerra ML, Teles AR, Kleber FD, Velho MC, Da Silva RC, et al. Consistency and reliability of the Brazilian Portuguese version of the Mini-Sleep Questionnaire in undergraduate students. Sleep Breath. 2011;15:351-5.doi: 10.1007/s11325-010-0392-x.
12Bardin L. Análise de conteúdo. 1ª ed. São Paulo: Edições 70; 2016.
13Caminero A, Bartolomão M. Sleep disturbances in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Sci. 2011;309(1-2):86-91. doi:10.1016/j.jns.2011.07.015.
14Ribeiro MFM, de Souza GB. Avaliação de fadiga em adultos com esclerose múltipla. Bras de Pesq Saúde. 2019;21(4):118-26. [cited 2023 Aug] Available from: https://periodicos.ufes.br/rbps/article/download/31022/20771/89753%23:~:text%3DConclus%25C3%25A3o%253A%2520H%25C3%25A1%2520alta%2520manifesta%25C3%25A7%25C3%25A3o%2520de,trabalho%2520nas%2520manifesta%25C3%25B5es%2520de%2520fadiga.
15Sousa DB, Silva JO, Simandi TM, Fernandes DGO, Canzonieri AM, Monteiro CBM. Ansiedade e depressão como fatores de interferência na qualidade de vida de pessoas com esclerose múltipla. Psique-An Psicol. 2020;16:34-47. doi:10.26619/2183-4806.XVI.2.3
16Zanuto EAC, Lima MCS, Araújo RG, Silva EP, Anzolin CC, Araujo MYC, et al. Distúrbios do sono em adultos de uma cidade do Estado de São Paulo. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2015;18:42-53. doi: 10.1590/1980-5497201500010004
17Drager LF, Pachito DV, Morihisa R, Carvalho P, Lobao A, Poyares D. Sleep quality in the Brazilian general population: A cross-sectional study. Sleep Epidemiol. 2022;2:100020. doi: 10.1016/j.sleepe.2022.100020
18Mosarrezaii A, Ghasemzadeh N, Rahimi-Golkhandan A, Najafi A, Hashemi S, FazelKia P. Sleep quality in patients with multiple sclerosis. J Sleep Sci. 2018;3(1-2):17-20. [cited 2023 Aug]. Avaliable from: https://jss.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jss/article/view/100.
19Vieira SAP. Qualidade de sono em adultos em Florianópolis: um estudo de base populacional[tese de doutorado]. Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina; 2018.
20Faria JSS, Rossi SV, Andreatta T, Simões VP, Pombo BH, Moreira RB. Benzodiazepínicos: revendo o uso para o desuso. Rev Med. 2019;98(6):423-6. doi:10.11606/issn.1679-9836.v98i6p423-426.
21Brasil. Secretaria de Atenção à Saúde. Política nacional de práticas integrativas e complementares no SUS. 2015. [cited 2023 Aug] Avaliable from: https://www.gov.br/saude/pt-br/composicao/saps/pics.
22Bruni O, Ferini-Strambi L, Giacomoni E, Pellegrino P. Herbal remedies and their possible effect on the GABAergic system and sleep. Nutrients. 2021;13(2):530. doi: 10.3390/nu13020530.
23Dayapoğlu N, Tan M. Evaluation of the effect of progressive relaxation exercises on fatigue and sleep quality in patients with multiple sclerosis. J Altern Complement Med. 2012;18(10):983-7. doi: 10.1089/acm.2011.0390.
24Karadag E, Samancioglu S, Ozden D, Bakir E. Effects of aromatherapy on sleep quality and anxiety of patients. Nurs Crit Care. 2017;22(2):105-12. doi: 10.1111/nicc.12198.
25Lopes J, Keppers II. Music-based therapy in rehabilitation of people with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review of clinical trials. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2021;79:527-35. doi: 10.1590/0004-282X-ANP-2020-0374.
26Rusch HL, Rosario M, Levison LM, Olivera A, Livingston WS, Wu T, et al. The effect of mindfulness meditation on sleep quality: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2019;1445(1):5-16. doi: 10.1111/nyas.13996.
27 Meyer N, Harvey AG, Lockley SW, Dijk DJ. Circadian rhythms and disorders of the timing of sleep. Lancet. 22;400(10357):1061–1078. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)00877-7.
28Morin CM, Benca RM. Insomnia: nature, diagnosis, and treatment. Handbook of clinical neurology. 99: Elsevier; 2011. p. 723-46. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-52007-4.00004-7.
29Carvalho KMd, Figueiredo MdLF, Galindo NM, Sá GGdM. Construção e validação de cartilha para idoso acerca da higiene do sono. Rev Bras Enferm. 2019;72:214-20. doi: 10.1590/0034-7167-2018-0603.
30Newland P, Lorenz RA, Smith JM, Dean E, Newland J, Cavazos P. The relationship among multiple sclerosis“related symptoms, sleep quality, and sleep hygiene behaviors. J Neurosci Nurs. 2019;51(1):37-42. doi: 10.1097/JNN.0000000000000409.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Beatriz Sales Marques, Munyra Rocha Silva Assunção , Marcela Souza Nóbrega, Namie Okino Sawada, Sueli de Carvalho Vilela, Roberta Seron Sanches
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
By publishing in Revista Contexto & Saúde, authors agree to the following terms:
The works are licensed under the Creative Commons Atribuição 4.0 Internacional (CC BY 4.0) license, which allows:
Share — to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format;
Adapt — to remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, including commercial.
These permissions are irrevocable, provided that the following terms are respected:
Attribution — authors must be properly credited, with a link to the license and indication of any changes made.
No additional restrictions — no legal or technological measures may be applied that restrict the use permitted by the license.
Notes:
The license does not apply to elements in the public domain or covered by legal exceptions.
The license does not grant all rights necessary for specific uses (e.g., image rights, privacy, or moral rights).
The journal is not responsible for opinions expressed in the articles, which are the sole responsibility of the authors. The Editor, with the support of the Editorial Board, reserves the right to suggest or request modifications when necessary.
Only original scientific articles presenting research results of interest that have not been published or simultaneously submitted to another journal with the same objective will be accepted.
Mentions of trademarks or specific products are intended solely for identification purposes, without any promotional association by the authors or the journal.
License Agreement (for articles published from September 2025): Authors retain copyright over their article and grant Revista Contexto & Saúde the right of first publication.
