Measurements of sleepiness and fatigue

• Published in: Journal of psychosomatic research Vol. 69; no. 1; pp. 81 - 89
• Main Authors: Shahid, Azmeh, Shen, Jianhua, Shapiro, Colin M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.07.2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Assessment; Biological and medical sciences; Clinical practice; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - diagnosis; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - psychology; Fatigue; Fatigue - diagnosis; Fatigue - psychology; Humans; Measurement; Medical sciences; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychometric properties; Psychometrics - statistics & numerical data; Psychometrics. Diagnostic aid systems; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Rating scale, Sleepiness; Reproducibility of Results; Sleep Wake Disorders - diagnosis; Sleep Wake Disorders - psychology; Sleepiness; Surveys and Questionnaires; Techniques and methods; Measurement; Rating scale, Sleepiness; Fatigue; Human; Evaluation scale; Psychometrics; Review; Test reliability; Recommendation; Rating scale; Test validation; Somnolence; Objectivity subjectivity; Typology; Sleepiness
• ISSN: 0022-3999; 1879-1360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2010.04.001

Abstract Sleepiness and fatigue are terms commonly used in clinical practice and research. At times sleepiness and fatigue are used interchangeably; however, each of them has distinct implications for diagnosis and treatment. The objective of this article is to review the psychometric properties of the measurements of sleepiness and fatigue. Although there are objective and subject measures to evaluate sleepiness, only rating scales are available to assess fatigue. Further research should be directed toward exploring the potential mechanisms underlying the measurements of sleepiness and fatigue. Establishing objective assessing instruments to evaluate fatigue and clarifying the relationship between objective and subjective assessments of sleepiness are crucially needed.