Psychological and physiological differences between good and poor sleepers.

Abstract

Physiological, personality, and EEC sleep patterns of 16 Poor Sleep group (PSG) Ss were compared with 16 Good Sleep group (GSG) Ss. Compared with good sleepers, poor sleepers had less sleep time, a higher proportion of Stage 2 sleep, markedly less REM sleep despite a similar number of REM periods, more awakenings, and required more time to fall asleep. Significant physiological differences between the groups were observed during all stages of sleep and during a presleep period. Personality test results clearly indicated a much higher probability of symptomatic complaints among poor sleepers as well as a strong positive relationship between dreaming and indexes of psychopathology. This study did not resolve cause and effect relationships among physiological variables, personality measures, amount of dreaming, and good and poor sleep; however, significant EEG, physiological, and psychological differences were demonstrated.

Treatment of insomnia in cancer patients using muscle relaxation training

“…A few exceptions to this included the studies of Lick and Eeffler (1977) and Mitchell and White (1977), in which subjects in the study were severe primary insomniacs (sleep latency greater than 50 minutes). As Cooper, (Monroe, 1967) and estimates of selep onset latencies by outside observers (Nicassio & Bootzin, 1974).…”

“…They found the adolescent poor sleepers evidenced similar personality characteristics as did the adult poor sleepers in Monroe's (1967) of the 274 subjects were found to have at least one elevation on the MMPI with the depression scale being the most common (Kales & Kales, 1972;Kales et al, 1975;Rother & Kramer, 1975) In summary, the research to date suggests most primary insomniacs are anxious people who are likely to demonstrate elevations on the MMPI. In addition, they show physiological differences from normals during the sleeping process.…”

“…Luce and Segal (1969) found a consistent correlation between insomnia and the trait of anxiousness. Monroe (1967) used a sleep questionnaire and EEG recordings in a sleep lab to identify groups of good and poor sleepers. On the MMPI, the poor sleepers had significantly higher scores on 9 of the 13 scales.…”

Psychophysiological insomnia: the behavioural model and a neurocognitive perspective

“…Lester et al assessments, e.g. polysomnography (Monroe 1967;Johnson et al 1975;Johnson et al 1975;Schwartz et al Rechtschaffen and Monroe 1969;Bixler et al 1973;Carskadon 1982;Brunner et al 1991Brunner et al ). et al 1976Frankel et al 1976;Lutz et al 1977;Monroe and Marks 1977;Coates et al 1982;Coates et al 1983;Edinger and Fins 1995).…”

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“…Our own research group became interested in worry as a consequence of earlier research on insomnia and its treatment that found relationships similar to those determined for test anxiety. A series of investigations ultimately led to the conclusion that many psychologically based insomnias were caused, not by peripheral physiological hyperactivity as had been previously supposed (Monroe, 1967), but by intrusive cognitive activity at bedtime (cf. Borkovec, 1979).…”