« Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite» : exploring the mental health fallout of urban bed bug infestation in Montréal, Québec
Background : The peer-reviewed literature currently contains no epidemiologic study examining the relationship between exposure to bed bug (Cimex lectularius) infestation and mental health. The objective of this research study is to explore the relationship between bed bug exposure status and measures of depression, anxiety and sleep disturbance. Methods : This is a cross-sectional study based on a secondary analysis of data from N=91 adult tenants of unfit dwellings who responded to a health questionnaire at the time of medico-environmental interventions led by the Montreal Public Health department between January and June 2010. The health questionnaire included the Brief Patient Health Questionnaire Mood Scale (PHQ-9), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener (GAD-7) and items 1-18 of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The relationship between self reported bed bug exposure and level of sleep disturbance as per the PSQI’s 5th subscale, depressive and anxious symptoms according to the PHQ-9 and the GAD-7 respectively, was evaluated using multivariate linear regression analysis. Descriptive data pertaining to self-reported sleep difficulties and social isolation behaviours due to bed bugs in the exposed subset are also presented. Results : The study sample included 38 men and 53 women. Out of the 91 participants, 49 adults reported bed bug exposure and of these, 53.06% (26/49) reported sleep difficulties and 46.94% (23/49) social isolation behaviours, due to exposure. Adults exposed to bed bugs scored significantly higher on the PHQ-9 (p=0.025), the GAD-7(p=0.026) and on the sleep disturbance subscale, PSQI(5) (p=0.003) compared to those unexposed. Conclusions : This first exploratory study highlights a significant association between bed bug exposure status and sleep disturbance as well as anxious and depressive symptoms, delineating individuals exposed as a possible group at risk for mental health problems. These findings support policy-makers’ initiatives to organize coordinated eradication efforts at the city and state levels.
bed bug mental health anxiety depression sleep disturbance