The Sleep of Remitted Bipolar Depressives: Comparison with Sex and Age-Matched Controls

Abstract

The sleep of 10 bipolar patients was recorded for five consecutive nights following their recovery from a depressive episode. In all respects except the number of arousals, their sleep did not differ reliably from that of 10 sex and age-matched control subjects. We conclude that sleep measures are unlikely to be useful as trait markers of a depressive diathesis in bipolar disorder.

Comparison of objective and subjective assessments of sleep time in subjects with bipolar disorder

“…Somnographic findings in both manic and depressed bipolar subjects include a disruption in sleep continuity, increased time spent in stage 1 sleep, shortened REM latency, and an increase in the density of REM sleep (Hudson et al, 1992). Though commonly associated with affective episodes, sleep disturbance has also been reported in euthymic BD patients (Harvey et al, 2005, Knowles et al, 1986, Millar et al, 2004). Considering that sleep disruptions are associated with a worse course of illness (Eidelman et al, Eidelman et al), increased symptom severity (Eidelman et al, Gruber et al, 2009), impairments in functioning and quality of life (Eidelman et al, Gruber et al, 2009), and may be initial prodromes (Skjelstad et al, 2009, Duffy, 2009, Duffy et al), and trait markers (Gruber et al, 2009) for the illness, further research in this area is warranted.…”

Insomnia Comorbid to Severe Psychiatric Illness

“…Another study reported that 25% of inter-episode BD patients experienced hypersomnia (26). With regard to specific sleep characteristics, studies have shown that inter-episode BD patients had longer sleep onset latency (9, 27, 28), longer and more variable periods of wakefulness during the night (29), more nighttime awakenings (28, 30), increased sleep duration (27), poorer sleep efficiency (23, 28), and more night-to-night variability of sleep patterns (27) relative to healthy adults. During the inter-episode period, two studies have found evidence for increased REM density in both unmedicated (31) and medicated bipolar samples (32).…”

“…During the inter-episode period, two studies have found evidence for increased REM density in both unmedicated (31) and medicated bipolar samples (32). However, one study found no differences between sleep architecture in healthy adults and inter-episode bipolar participants (30). In all three studies there were no observed differences in NREM sleep in the bipolar samples relative to healthy adults (30–32).…”

“…However, one study found no differences between sleep architecture in healthy adults and inter-episode bipolar participants (30). In all three studies there were no observed differences in NREM sleep in the bipolar samples relative to healthy adults (30–32). …”

Psychometric, Polysomnographic, and Neuroendocrine Measures in Subjects at High Risk for Psychiatric Disorders: Preliminary Results

“…Giles et al [ 1987] reported a high risk for relapse in those depressed patients dis playing a short REM latency during depression as well as in the remitted state. On the other hand, Knowles et al [1986] and Riemann and Berger [1989] described a nor malization of the EEG sleep pattern in fully remitted depressed patients.…”