Transient Psychotic Symptoms Induced by Acute Sleep Deprivation in a Factory Worker: A Case Report
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Shift work sleep disorder and acute sleep deprivation are increasingly recognized occupational hazards, particularly among factory workers on rotating schedules, with potential for severe neuropsychiatric manifestations, including transient psychosis. We report the case of a 37-year-old male factory worker with no psychiatric history who developed vivid auditory hallucinations and intense anxiety following consecutive night shifts and daytime overtime, resulting in profound sleep restriction. Presentation to occupational health revealed an exhausted, oriented patient with mild psychomotor agitation but no neurological deficits or substance intoxication. Comprehensive evaluation excluded organic causes through normal laboratory tests and clinical examination. Management consisted of enforced rest and temporary removal from night duties, leading to complete symptom resolution within three days without pharmacotherapy. No recurrence occurred over a three-month follow-up. This case underscores the vulnerability of shift workers to sleep deprivation-induced psychosis, a reversible condition often overlooked in occupational settings. Early recognition and non-pharmacologic intervention can prevent escalation, highlighting the need for sleep hygiene protocols and shift scheduling reforms in industrial environments to mitigate such risks.
Source: Cureus
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.95575
Author: Albert Gassull
Institution: Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de Reus
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4415614419