Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

D. J. Buysse, C. F. Reynolds III, T. H. Monk, S. R. Berman, and D. J. Kupfer

Modified From: Rush J, et al: Handbook of Psychiatric Measures, APA, Washington DC, 2000

GOALS
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (Buysse et al. 1989a) was developed to measure sleep quality
during the previous month and to discriminate between good and poor sleepers. Sleep quality is a complex
phenomenon that involves several dimensions, each of which is covered by the PSQI. The covered domains
include Subjective Sleep Quality, Sleep Latency, Sleep Duration, Habitual Sleep Efficiency, Sleep
Disturbances, Use of Sleep Medications, and Daytime Dysfunction.

DESCRIPTION
The PSQI is composed of 19 self-rated questions and 5 questions rated by a bed partner or roommate (only
the self-rated items are used in scoring the scale). The self-administered scale contains 15 multiple-choice
items that inquire about frequency of sleep disturbances and subjective sleep quality and 4 write-in items
that inquire about typical bedtime, wake-up time, sleep latency, and sleep duration. The 5 bed partner
questions are multiple-choice ratings of sleep disturbance. All items are brief and easy for most adolescents
and adults to understand. The items have also been adapted so that they can be administered by a clinician
or research assistant. Sample self-rated items are provided in Example 30 1.
The PSQI generates seven scores that correspond to the domains listed previously. Each
component score ranges from 0 (no difficulty) to 3 (severe difficulty). The component scores are summed
to produce a global score (range of 021). A PSQI global score >5 is considered to be suggestive of
significant sleep disturbance. Cutoff scores are not available for component scales.

PRACTICAL ISSUES
It takes most patients 510 minutes to complete the PSQI. No training is needed to administer and score it.
Scoring time is less than 5 minutes. The scale and scoring instructions are available in the original
publication (Buysse et al. 1989a) or by request from the author:
Daniel J. Buysse, M.D.
Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic
3811 OHara Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES
Reliability
Internal consistency was demonstrated in a sample of healthy control subjects (n = 52), patients with sleep
disorders (n = 62), and depressed patients (n = 34); Cronbachs alpha was 0.83 for the global score.
Correlations between the component scales and the total score ranged from 0.35 to 0.76. Correlations of
items with the total score ranged from 0.20 to 0.66. Test-retest reliability (average interval of 28 days) with
a subset of 91 of the patients and control subjects described earlier (43 control subjects, 22 depressed
patients, and 26 patients with sleep disorders) was 0.85 for the global score and 0.650.84 for component
scales. A small sample of elderly patients (n = 19) evaluated over an average interval of 19 days revealed
similar findings (global reliability = 0.82; component scale score = 0.450.84).

Validity
Patients with sleep disorders (n = 62) or psychiatric disorders associated with sleep
disturbances (e.g., depressive and anxiety disorders) (n = 34) scored significantly higher than healthy
control subjects (n = 52) on global and component scales. Component scales
significantly differentiated diagnostic groups. A post hoc cutoff score of 5 on the PSQI produced a
sensitivity of 89.6% and a specificity of 86.5% of patients versus control subjects. This cutoff score
correctly identified 84% of patients with disorders of initiating or maintaining sleep, 89% of patients with
disorders of excessive sleepiness, and 97% of depressed patients. Group differences on the PSQI between
patients and control subjects were substantiated by comparable group differences in polysomonographic
measures for sleep latency, sleep efficiency, sleep duration, and number of arousals. However, PSQI
component scale scores were not significantly correlated with corresponding polysomnographic measures
(in the same sample of 148 patients and control subjects), with the exception of sleep latency (r = 0.33).

The global PSQI score was correlated with sleep latency (r = 0.20) but not with any other
polysomnographic measures.
In studies that compared patients with anxiety disorders with control subjects, those with
panic disorder and those with social phobia exceeded the control group on global PSQI scores and on
Subjective Sleep Quality, Sleep Latency, Sleep Disturbances, and Daytime Dysfunction subscales.

CLINICAL UTILITY
The PSQI was designed to provide a reliable, valid, and standardized measure of sleep quality. Preliminary
results with the scale suggest that it is successful on all three counts.
Within sleep disorder treatment settings, the test should be useful in providing initial indexes of the severity
and nature of sleep disturbances. Within a general psychiatric or medical setting, the PSQI appears to be
useful as an initial screen to identify good and poor sleepers. Furthermore, although not as
psychometrically sound as the overall score, the component scales appear to provide preliminary signs of
specific types of sleep disturbance. Although in theory the PSQI should be useful in identifying patients for
whom polysomnographic evaluation may be necessary, its actual performance as a screening tool has not
been reported (i.e., false-positive and false-negative rates compared with results from the polysomnogram).
The PSQI component scales do not, by and large, reflect corresponding polysomnographic findings. In any
case, the PSQI is not sufficient to provide accurate clinical diagnoses of sleep disorders. Furthermore, there
are no data establishing its sensitivity to change; thus, it is not known whether the scale is useful for
monitoring treatment response.

REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED READINGS

Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF, Monk TH, et al: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric
practice and research. Psychiatry Res 28:193213, 1989a
Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF, Monk TH, et al: Quantification of subjective sleep quality in healthy elderly men
and women using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Sleep 14:331338, 1989b
Gentilli A, Weiner DK, Kuchhibhatla M, et al: Test-retest reliability of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
in nursing home residents (letter). J Am Geriatr Soc 43:13171318, 1995
Stein MB, Chartier M, Walker JR: Sleep in nondepressed patients with panic disorder, I:
systematic assessment of subjective sleep quality and sleep disturbance. Sleep 16:724726, 1993
Stein MB, Kroft CDL, Walker JR: Sleep impairment in patients with social phobia. Psychiatry Res
49:251256, 1993
Rush J, et al: Handbook of Psychiatric Measures, APA, Washington DC, 2000

RPA Sleep Health and Respiratory Support Clinic

11 West, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Missenden RD, Camperdown NSW 2050
Ph: 9515 6655 Fax: 9515 8196

PITTSBURGH SLEEP QUALITY INDEX (PSQI)

Name__________________________ ID#_________ Date________ Age___________
Instructions:
The following questions relate to your usual sleep habits during the past month ONLY. Your
answers
should indicate the most accurate reply for the majority of days and nights in the past month.
Please answer all questions.
1. During the past month, when have you usually gone to bed at night?
USUAL BED TIME_________________________
2. During the past month, how long (in minutes) has it usually taken you to fall asleep each
night?
NUMBER OF MINUTES_____________________
3. During the past month, when have you usually gotten up in the morning?
USUAL GETTING UP TIME__________________
4. During the past month, how many hours of actual sleep did you get at night? (This may
be
different than the number of hours you spend in bed.)
HOURS OF SLEEP PER NIGHT________________
For each of the remaining questions, check the one best response. Please answer all questions.
5. During the past month, how often have you had trouble sleeping because you..
(a) cannot get to sleep within 30 minutes
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
(b) Wake up in the middle of the night or early morning
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
(c) Have to get up to use the bathroom.
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
(d) Cannot breathe comfortably.
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
(e) Cough or snore loudly.
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
(f) Feel too cold.
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
(g) Feel too hot.
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
Past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
(h) Had bad dreams.
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
Past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
(i) Have pain.
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
Past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______

(j) Other reason(s), please describe_____________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________
How often during the past month have you had trouble sleeping because of this?
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
Past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
6. During the past month, how would you rate your sleep quality overall?
Very good _____________
Fairly good _____________
Fairly bad _____________
Very bad _____________
7. During the past month, how often have you taken medicine (Prescribed or "over the
counter") to help you sleep?
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
Past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
8. During the past month, how often have you had trouble staying awake while driving,
eating
meals, or engaging in social activity?
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
Past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
9. During the past month, how much of a problem has it been for you to keep up enough
enthusiasm to get things done?
No problem at all _________
Only a very slight problem _________
Somewhat of a problem _________
A very big problem _________
10. Do you have a bed partner or share a room?
No bed partner or do not share a room _________
Partner/ flatmate in other room _________
Partner in same room, but not same bed _________
Partner in same bed _________
11. If you have a bed partner or share a room, ask him/her how often in the past month you
have had
(a) Loud snoring.
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
Past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
(b) Long pauses between breaths while asleep.
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
Past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
(c) Legs twitching or jerking while you sleep.
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
Past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
(d) Episodes of disorientation or confusion during sleep.
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
Past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
(e) Other restlessness while you sleep: please describe_________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Not during the Less than Once or Three or more
Past month________ once a week_______ twice a week_______ times a week______
[Buysse DJ, Reynolds CF, Monk TH, Berman SR, DJ Kupfer (1989) The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: A New
Instrument for Psychiatric Practice and Research, Psychiatry Research, 28: 193-213].