Sleep and sleep disorders in depression

Authors

  • Sarah Laxhmi Chellappa Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde
  • John Fontenele Araújo UFRN; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde; Departamento de Fisiologia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832007000600005

Keywords:

Sleep, sleep disorders, sleep initiation and maintenance disorders, depressive disorder, mental health

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders are usually associated with a wide range of psychiatric disorders, and are regarded as acharacteristic feature of depression. OBJECTIVES:To reportthe current state-of-the-artin sleep research in depression and to present some of the principal theoretical models that explain these sleep disturbances. METHODS: Literature review was carried out in the ISI and Medline databases. RESULTS: Several studies have indicated alterations in sleep electroencephalographic patterns in subjects with depression. Some of the most frequent findings are disorders affecting the continuity and duration of sleep, reduction of phases 3 and 4 of sleep, decreased REM (rapid eye movements) sleep latency, and prolonged and intense first period of REM sleep. This technique is currently of limited use as a diagnostic tool in depression. CONCLUSIONS: AAlthough the pathophysiological mechanisms of sleep disorders in depression are complex, sleep studies play a key role in investigative research in depression, particularly in areas regarding prediction of responses to treatment, prognosis of relapses, and etiological models regarding depression.

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Published

2007-01-01

Issue

Vol. 34 No. 6 (2007)

Section

Reviews of Literature

License

Once accepted for publication, the manuscript becomes permanent property of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry. This copyright transfer subsumes exclusive and unlimited entitlement of the Archives of Clinical Psychiatry to publish and distribute the full contents of articles in whichever publishing medium, including press and electronic media, in Brazil and abroad.

Manuscripts are accepted with the understanding that the Editor and the editorial staff have the right to make revisions aimed at greater conciseness, clarity, and conformity with Journal style, of course without changing its content.

How to Cite

Sleep and sleep disorders in depression . (2007). Archives of Clinical Psychiatry, 34(6), 285-289. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0101-60832007000600005