Sleep at baseline and after electroconvulsive therapy in patients with major depression. (30th December 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Göder, Robert; Hinrichsen, Irina; Seeck-Hirschner, Mareen; Pfeiffer, Richard; Weinhold, Sara Lena; Baier, Paul Christian; Hanss, Robert; Schulz-DuBois, Christina
• Is Part Of: Psychiatry research. Volume 246(2016)
• Page Start: 683
• Page End: 687
• Publication Date: 2016-12-30
• Subjects: Polysomnography -- Major depression -- ECT -- REM sleep density; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- periodicals; Psychiatrie -- Périodiques; 616.89
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.10.064
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-1781

Abstract

Abstract: Sleep in major depressive disorder is frequently altered and possibly indicative for treatment outcomes. For example, increased rapid eye movement (REM-) sleep density seems to predict worse treatment outcomes of psychotherapy. We therefore investigated pre-treatment sleep and sleep changes after termination of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Sleep was polysomnographically recorded. The analysed sample consisted of 15 inpatients with ages ranging from 30 to 80 (mean 59 years). ECT was applied two times a week up to 7 weeks. Stable remission of depressive symptoms was defined by a score in the Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression <8 at six months after ECT. The main results were an increase in sleep efficiency and a decrease in the number of awakenings within the course of ECT in the entire patient group. Significant increases in slow wave sleep and REM sleep duration and a significant decrease in REM density were only seen in stable remitters and not in non-remitters. In pre-treatment baseline sleep a higher REM density of the first REM sleep period was significantly associated with better ECT outcome. In conclusion, REM density of the first REM sleep period seems to be an interesting candidate as putative predictor of stable treatment outcome of ECT. Highlights: Within the course of ECT sleep efficiency increased in patients with major depression. REM density decreased in the group of stable remitters within the course of ECT. A higher REM density in pre-treatment sleep was associated with better ECT outcome.