Use of a depression and sleep impairment treatment guideline to improve quality of life for patients with sickle cell disease.

BACKGROUND: Pain in sickle cell disease (SCD) is often joined by other affective disorders such as depression and/or sleep impairment that can impact pain levels and quality of life (QoL).

AIM: To develop a guideline to improve the process of assessment and treatment of depression and sleep impairment in patients admitted with SCD.

METHOD: An interdisciplinary team used the Stetler model to create the Guideline for the Evaluation and Treatment of Depression and Sleep Impairment in Sickle Cell Disease. Patients were assessed, offered treatments and reassessed during the project period.

RESULTS: Both depression and QoL scores showed significant improvement by the end of the project. Significant correlations were found between pain, depression and sleep; depression, pain, sleep and QoL; sleep, pain and depression; and QoL and depression.

CONCLUSIONS: Interdisciplinary teams are effective in creating a guideline to assess and treat depression and sleep impairment and their effects on pain and QoL in patients with SCD.