5-HT2 receptor antagonism and slow-wave sleep in major depression.
Specific sleep disturbances such as reduced slow-wave sleep (SWS) and decreased serotonergic (5-HT) activity have been observed in depressive disorders. Ritanserin, a specific 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, has been shown to increase SWS in healthy subjects. This study explored the effects of a single dose or ritanserin (5 mg) on sleep electroencephalography in 18 major depressed patients and in 10 control subjects. Ritanserin affected SWS differently in the two groups. Although stage 3 increased significantly in the groups, in contrast to controls, there was no significant effect of ritanserin on stage 4 in depressed patients. In the depressed group, irritability and DSM-III-R melancholic type predicted 40% or the variance of stage 4 increment after ritanserin, as assessed by stepwise multiple regression. These results are in agreement with a potential 5-HT disturbance, particularly at the 5-HT2 receptor level, in some clinical forms of depression.
Staner
L
L
Department of Psychiatry, Erasme Hospital, Free University of Brussels, Belgium.
Kempenaers
C
C
Simonnet
M P
MP
Fransolet
L
L
Mendlewicz
J
J
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D016713:Ritanserin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects*
D010919:Placebos; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists; D016713:Ritanserin