The Relationship of Psychological Factors and Sleep Quality With the Severity of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common peripheral neuropathy with an incidence of 2.7-4%. CTS, resulting from compression of the median nerve in the wrist, clinically progresses with tingling, numbness matching the nerve trace, and motor deficit in the presence of progressive nerve damage. Accordingly, the incidence of neuropathic pain is increasing. In addition to these symptoms mentioned, electro-diagnostic tests are used for diagnostic purposes and to determine the severity of nerve compression, and as a result, there are different types of classification, but most commonly CTS is classified as mild, moderate and severe. This classification is of great importance for the regulation of the follow-up and treatment protocol and making the association of existing complaints with the disease. Studies have shown that approximately 80% of CTS patients wake up at night due to numbness in the hand, resulting in deterioration in sleep quality. Impairment of sleep quality may cause increased sympathetic nervous system activity and awakening of physical and psychological stressors. Deterioration in sleep quality may cause depression and anxiety. Conflicting results have been found in the studies related to these findings. However, no study was found in which daytime sleepiness was evaluated in terms of CTS. The investigators aim in this study is to evaluate the relationship between CTS severity and depression, anxiety, sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. This study;149 patients with a diagnosis of CTS were prospectively included in the study. Electro-diagnostic test results were used to determine the severity of the disease. In this context, Boston CTS rating scale was used to evaluate the functional and symptomatic effects, Pittsburgh sleep quality scale and Epworth sleepiness scale were used to evaluate sleep quality and daytime sleepiness, and pain DETECT questionnaire was used to evaluate pain type.