Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

What is the PSQI?

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a standardized, validated questionnaire designed to measure sleep quality and disturbances over a one-month period. It is commonly used by clinicians and researchers to assess sleep patterns in adults, providing both a global score and seven component scores that reflect various dimensions of sleep quality.

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Three of the PSQI's developers (left to right): Dr. Kupfer, Dr. Reynolds, and Dr. Buysse

A Letter of Approval from the Drs!!!

Dear Rob,

Thank you for your interest in the PSQI. You have permission to use the PSQI in the non-commercially funded research or educational project described in your request. This permission extends only to the specific project described in your request. You will need to submit a separate request if you would like to use the PSQI in other projects. Permission to use the PSQI has the following provisions:

1. Electronic format: If you plan to administer the PSQI in electronic format, you must ensure that the questions and responses are faithfully reproduced from the original form. We do not have the PSQI available in an electronic format for distribution. Do not distribute the PSQI in electronic format to any other individuals and groups outside of your specific request.

2. Translations are distributed through an agreement with MAPI Research Trust. The website (https://eprovide.mapi-trust.org/) will indicate what languages they have on file. You will need to work with them to obtain any necessary translations. They will collect the proper user agreement. We do not know if they have the required translation on file. You will need to contact MAPI for that information. If the translations you need are unavailable, MAPI can provide them for a cost. You will need to contact them for the exact price. If you have trouble obtaining the translations, let us know.

If you translate the PSQI yourself, translations must use established linguistic validation methods including (but not limited to) cognitive interviews, translation, and back-translation by two bi-lingual speakers.

All translations remain property of the University of Pittsburgh. They are considered derivative works of the original work.

3. Referencing: All publications, presentations, reports, or developments resulting from or relative to the use of this material must be referenced as follows:
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: A New Instrument for Psychiatric Practice and Research (Authors Daniel J. Buysse, Charles F. Reynolds III, Timothy H. Monk, Susan R. Berman , and David J Kupfer, © University of Pittsburgh 1989)

General information regarding the PSQI, including the instrument, original article, and scoring information, is available at our website, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

To access the PSQI Scoring Database, email Christina at vlachosc@upmc.edu.

Note that Question 10 is not used in scoring the PSQI. This question is for informational purposes only, and may be omitted during data collection per requirements of the particular study.

Good luck with your research!

Sincerely,

Daniel J. Buysse, MD
Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, Medicine,
and Clinical and Translational Science
UPMC Endowed Chair in Sleep Medicine
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
3811 O'Hara St., E-1123
Pittsburgh, PA 15213