Citation

Sabo E, Reynolds CF, Kupfer DJ, Berman SR. Psychiatry Res. 1991; 36(3): 265-277.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1991, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

2062968

Abstract

In a retrospective study of the electroencephalographic (EEG) sleep of major depressives with and without a history of suicide attempts, suicide attempters had longer sleep latency, lower sleep efficiency, and fewer late-night delta wave counts than normal controls. Nonattempters, compared to attempters, had less rapid eye movement (REM) time and activity in period 2, but more delta wave counts in non-REM period 4. Although both attempters and nonattempters were like controls in regard to REM period 2, patients with suicide attempts had altered intranight temporal distribution of phasic REM activity, with increased REM activity (by both visual and automated scoring) in REM sleep period 2 (significant group x period interaction). These findings, which may be more traitlike or persistent than state-related, are discussed in the context of current theories on the role of serotonin in the regulation of sleep and in suicidal behavior.

Language: en