Major affective disorders ranging from subthreshold affective temperaments to severe affective diseases and anxiety, are frequently associated with sleep–wake dysregulation. Interestingly, recent studies suggested an active role of Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) in the emergence of sleep disturbances.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between SPD and sleep quality in subjects with major affective disorders and specific affective temperaments.

This study aimed to examine the sensory profile (expressed in hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity) of patients with major affective disorders and its relative contribution to the prediction of sleep quality while also considering affective temperaments and depression, known as factors that may impact sleep quality.

We recruited 176 participants (mean age = 47.3) of which 56.8% have unipolar depression and 43.2% bipolar disorder. Reduced sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) whereas affective temperaments were assessed using the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego (TEMPS).

Sensory hypersensitivity, assessed using Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP), significantly distinguished between poor and good sleepers. Sleep quality was mainly predicted by the Beck Depression Inventory-II total score and anxious temperament. Yet, sensory hypersensitivity contributed to this prediction mainly in regard to sleep efficiency and related daytime dysfunctions.

The careful assessment of the unique sensory profile and its behavioral/functional influence on patients’ quality of life may help clinicians and health providers in developing targeted treatment interventions.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.