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Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
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About Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Scale Name
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Author Details
Daniel J. Buysse, Charles F. Reynolds III, Timothy H. Monk, Susan R. Berman, and David J. Kupfer
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a comprehensive self-report questionnaire designed to assess sleep quality and disturbances over a one-month period, serving as a critical tool in both clinical and research settings. Developed in 1989 by Daniel J. Buysse and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh, the PSQI was created to provide a standardized, reliable measure for evaluating subjective sleep quality in psychiatric, medical, and healthy populations. Its development addressed the need for a multidimensional instrument that could differentiate poor sleep from good sleep, aiding in the identification of sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, or those secondary to mental health conditions.
The PSQI consists of 19 items, grouped into seven component scores: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction. Each component is scored on a 0-3 scale, with the global score ranging from 0 to 21; higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality, and a score above 5 suggests significant sleep disturbance. Respondents answer questions about their sleep habits, such as time to fall asleep or frequency of nighttime awakenings, with some items allowing input from bed partners. Its validation across diverse groups, including psychiatric patients and older adults, ensures broad applicability.
Psychologists, sleep specialists, and clinicians value the PSQI for its ability to provide a detailed profile of sleep health, facilitating screening, diagnosis, and treatment planning for interventions like cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) or medication. Its extensive translations make it a global standard, enabling professionals to address sleep-related issues with precision and cultural sensitivity, ultimately improving patient well-being.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index from a reputable source, such as peer-reviewed journals, authorized research platforms, or the University of Pittsburgh’s sleep research program, ensuring proper use permissions.
- Explain the purpose of the PSQI to the respondent, noting that it evaluates sleep quality over the past month to guide clinical care or research, emphasizing its straightforward nature.
- Provide instructions, asking the respondent to answer the 19 items based on their typical sleep experiences, including open-ended questions (e.g., bedtime) and scaled responses, ensuring clarity for items requiring partner input.
- Approximate time for completion is about 5-10 minutes, depending on the respondent’s comprehension and detail provided.
- Administer the scale in a quiet, private setting, using paper or digital formats, to promote honest and accurate responses.
Reliability and Validity
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index exhibits robust psychometric properties, supporting its widespread use. Internal consistency is strong, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.80 to 0.85 for the global score, indicating good cohesion across components. Test-retest reliability is high, with correlations of 0.85-0.87 over intervals of several weeks in stable populations, reflecting consistent measurement of sleep quality.
Convergent validity is evidenced by significant correlations with other sleep measures, such as the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (r = 0.50-0.65) and sleep diaries (r = 0.60-0.75). Discriminant validity is supported by weaker associations with unrelated constructs, like general anxiety (r < 0.40), though some overlap exists with depression due to sleep’s psychological impact. Criterion validity is demonstrated by its ability to distinguish clinical groups (e.g., insomnia, depression) from healthy controls and its sensitivity to treatment effects, such as improved scores post-CBT-I or CPAP therapy. These qualities, as reported by Buysse et al. (1989), affirm the PSQI’s reliability and validity.
Available Versions
19-Items
Reference
Buysse, D. J., Reynolds III, C. F., Monk, T. H., Berman, S. R., & Kupfer, D. J. (1989). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry research, 28(2), 193-213.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the PSQI measure?
It measures sleep quality and disturbances across seven components.
Who can use the PSQI?
Clinicians, psychologists, and researchers assessing sleep in various populations.
How long does the PSQI take to complete?
It takes about 5-10 minutes.
Can the PSQI diagnose sleep disorders?
No, it identifies sleep disturbances but requires further evaluation for diagnosis.
Is the PSQI sensitive to treatment changes?
Yes, it detects improvements from therapies like CBT-I or medication.
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