Rapid eye movement sleep study on different episode types of depression and post-stroke depression

Abstract

Objective To explore the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep characteristics of different episode types of depression and post-stroke depression (PSD) patients and provide support for clinical diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. Methods Patients with single-episode depression (group A, n=22), patients with recurrent depression (≥2 episodes, group B, n=26) and patients with PSD (group C, n=19) were included from Henan Provincial Mental Hospital. 20 healthy volunteers were assigned to control group.Participants in the 4 groups were performed polysomnographic recordings (PSG) from 9 PM to 6 AM before treatment.The 3 patients groups were performed the second PSG recordings and HAMD score at the end of 6 week SSRIs treatment. The REM indexes of 4 groups were compared and analyzed. Results First PSG detection showed that REM sleep latencies (RL) were shorter in group A and B (A: (65.57±18.29) min, B: (66.32±15.46) min) than that in group C ( (79.17±20.18) min ) and control group( (87.24±16.55) min); REM activity (RA) (A: (99.82±25.71) u, B: (104.70±28.23) u)and REM density (RD) (A: (81.06±19.35)%, B: (86.61±23.83)%) were increased more significantly in group A and B than those in control group ((79.61±18.40) u; (68.11±17.54)%); REM sleep time (RT) were decreased more significantly in group C ((51.66±22.26) min) than that in group A((71.43±20.70) min), group B((74.81±17.52) min) and control group ((70.46±16.35) min)(P 0.05). There was no significant difference in the indexes of REM in group C; RT was prolonged ((51.66±22.26) min vs(68.37±20.16) min)in group C, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion Most of depression patients with different episode types have REM disinhibition phenomenon. RD increase may be REM characteristic type of depression patient. Sleep disorders of PSD patients are mainly poor sleep process and sleep continuity and have no characteristics of REM sleep disorder of depression ones. Key words: Depression; Post-stroke depression; Sleep disorders; Rapid eye movement sleep; Polysomnogram