Outcome MeasureWell-being

PSQI

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index

5 Papers in Blossom

About This Instrument

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a 19-item self-report questionnaire developed by Daniel Buysse and colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh to measure sleep quality and disturbances over a one-month period. It generates seven component scores: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleeping medication, and daytime dysfunction. These components are summed to produce a global score ranging from 0 to 21, where a score greater than 5 indicates clinically poor sleep quality. The PSQI is used in psychedelic research as a secondary endpoint to evaluate whether psychedelic-assisted therapy improves sleep, which is commonly disrupted in conditions such as PTSD, depression, and substance use disorders. The instrument has good internal consistency (α = 0.83) and test–retest reliability.

Clinical Thresholds

021
Good sleep
Score 0–4
Poor sleep
Score 5–21

Outcome Data Across Studies

Reported results for PSQI across 2 studies with quantitative data.

Outcome data across 7 study arm–timepoint observations
SD
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress dis - order: a randomized phase 2 controlled trial
2018Secondary
MDMA 40 mg(active_comparator)0612.03.2—
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress dis - order: a randomized phase 2 controlled trial
2018Secondary
MDMA 40 mg(active_comparator)28611.23.3—
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress dis - order: a randomized phase 2 controlled trial
2018Secondary
MDMA 40 mg(active_comparator)286-0.8Δ2.5—
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress dis - order: a randomized phase 2 controlled trial
2018Secondary
MDMA 40 mg(active_comparator)6057.64.0—
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress dis - order: a randomized phase 2 controlled trial
2018Secondary
MDMA 40 mg(active_comparator)365235.43.5—
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: a randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial
2018Secondary
Full dose(experimental)0311.0——
3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: a randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial
2018Secondary
Full dose(experimental)6037.0——

Papers Using PSQI

Open Accessindividual

Pilot study of psilocybin in patients with post-treatment lyme disease

In an open‑label, single‑arm pilot study of 20 patients with post‑treatment Lyme disease, two psilocybin sessions with psychological support produced significant, sustained reductions in symptom burden (40% decrease in GSQ‑30 at six months) and improvements in both physical and mental quality of life. The intervention was feasible and well-tolerated with no serious related adverse events, supporting further controlled trials of psilocybin‑assisted therapy for PTLD.

Published
Journal
Scientific Reports
Authors
Garcia-Romeu, A., Naudé, G. P., Rebman, A. W., So, S., Yaffe, A., Geithner, I., Kozero, E. A., Yang, T., Soloski, M. J., Aucott, J. N.
Open Accessindividual

MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for AUD: Bayesian analysis of WHO drinking risk level and exploratory analysis of drinking behavior and psychosocial functioning at 3 months follow-up

In an open‑label feasibility study of 14 recently detoxified participants, Bayesian analysis estimated a 55–63% probability that MDMA‑assisted psychotherapy produced a two‑level reduction in WHO drinking‑risk at 3‑month follow‑up, with preliminary reductions in alcohol craving and improvements in sleep and psychosocial functioning. The paper frames a harm‑reduction endpoint for AUD and provides early evidence that MDMA‑assisted psychotherapy may improve quality of life alongside reduced drinking.

Published
Journal
Alcohol and Alcoholism
Authors
Thurgur, H., Sessa, B., Higbed, L., O'brien, S., Durant, C., Wilson, S., Szigeti, B., Morgan, C. J. A., Nutt, D. J.
Paywallindividual

Debunking the myth of ‘Blue Mondays’: No evidence of affect drop after taking clinical MDMA

In an open‑label study of 14 participants with alcohol use disorder, clinically administered MDMA produced no post‑acute mood declines ('Blue Mondays'); participants maintained positive mood in the week after dosing, reported improved sleep at 3‑ and 6‑month follow‑ups, and none sought illicit MDMA. These results support the safety and tolerability of therapeutic MDMA and suggest previously reported come‑downs are likely due to illicit sourcing and recreational settings rather than clinical use.

Published
Journal
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Authors
Sessa, B., Aday, J. S., Curran, H. V., Measham, F., Higbed, L., Nutt, D. J., O'Biren, S.
Open Accessindividual

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-assisted psychotherapy for treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress dis - order: a randomized phase 2 controlled trial

In this randomised phase 2 dose‑response trial, two active MDMA doses (100 mg and 125 mg) given with eight‑hour psychotherapy sessions produced larger reductions in clinician‑rated PTSD severity than a low (40 mg) dose. Benefits were sustained at 12‑month follow‑up (76% no longer met PTSD criteria) and the treatment was well tolerated with no drug‑related serious adverse events.

Published
Journal
Journal of Psychopharmacology
Authors
Ot'alora G, M., Grigsby, J., Poulter, B., Van Derveer, J. W., Giron, S. G., Jerome, L., Feduccia, A. A., Hamilton, S., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Emerson, A., Mithoefer, M. C., Doblin, R.
Open Accessindividual

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-assisted psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans, firefighters, and police officers: a randomised, double-blind, dose-response, phase 2 clinical trial

This Phase II clinical trial (n=26) finds that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy (75-125 mg) led to significant and sustained decreases in PTSD (CAPS-IV) scores as compared to an active placebo (30 mg). At the 12-month follow-up, the average CAPS-IV score had dropped from 87 to 39 (67% no longer qualified for PTSD diagnosis).

Published
Journal
Lancet Psychiatry
Authors
Mithoefer, A. T., Mithoefer, M. C., Feduccia, A. A., Jerome, L., Wagner, M. T., Wymer, J., Holland, J., Hamilton, S., Yazar-Klosinski, B., Emerson, A., Doblin, R.

Quick Facts

Full Name
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Domain
Well-being
Papers Indexed
5
Score Range
0–21
Interpretation
Lower = better
Unit
points
Reference
Visit
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