Background Long-term effects of sleep-related factors on risk of psychiatric disorders among professional drivers have not been conclusive. A cohort study was used to evaluate the effectiveness of subjective and objective sleep assessment tools to assess for both the 7 year risk of psychiatric disorders events. Methods: Taiwan Bus Driver Cohort Study (TBDCS) recruited 1650 professional drivers from a large bus company in Taiwan in 2005. The subjects were interviewed in person, completed the sleep assessment questionnaires (Pittsburg sleeping quality score (PSQI), Epworth daytime sleepiness score (ESS), Snore Outcomes Survey score(SOS)), and had an overnight pulse oximeter survey. Psychiatric diseases as diagnosed in the National Health Research Database were the outcomes of this study, including substance abuse, anxiety, mood, and sleep disorders. Cox proportional hazards model was performed to estimate the hazard ratio for psychiatric disorders. Results: Between 2006 and 2012, 102 bus drivers were diagnosed as having psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders were related to higher PSQI score, SOS score, ODI4 levels, and ODI3 levels. The relation between PSQI and psychiatric disorders remains robust after adjusting for age, education, drinking, smoking, refreshing drinks, exercise, bus driving experience, and shift modes. Conclusion: This study showed increased psychiatric disorders in the 7 year follow-up after self-reported poor sleeping quality. Further research is warranted to develop strategies for preventing sleep-related psychiatric disorders among professional drivers.