Sleep in schizophrenic patients on and off haloperidol therapy. Clinically stable vs relapsed patients.
We examined the state-dependent contribution of neuroleptic withdrawal and psychotic relapse in influencing sleep measures. Eighteen clinically stable male schizophrenic patients taking haloperidol were studied with 3 nights of polysomnography for baseline measures and again after neuroleptic withdrawal. Sleep measures were also obtained at the point of relapse (n = 9) or after a 6-week drug-free period if the patient remained clinically stable (n = 9). Neuroleptic withdrawal led to a global deterioration of rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement sleep and a reduction of rapid eye movement latency in both groups. Relapsers differed from nonrelapsers in that they had a larger decrease in total sleep time, sleep efficiency, total non-rapid eye movement sleep, and stage 2 sleep. The level of psychosis was inversely correlated with sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and stage 4 sleep in the drug-free patients. Our data suggest that clinical state needs to be identified in sleep studies of drug-free patients.
Neylan
T C
TC
Highland Drive Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15206.
van Kammen
D P
DP
Kelley
M E
ME
Peters
J L
JL
D000328:Adult; D003700:Delta Rhythm; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000209:etiology*
D006220:Haloperidol