EEG sleep studies in patients with generalized anxiety disorder.
Sleep polygraphic recordings were performed during 3 consecutive nights in 12 inpatients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in comparison with age- and sex-matched groups of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and normal subjects. GAD patients differed significantly from those with MDD. A lower number of awakenings and stage shifts in night 1 and the mean of the 3 nights and a shorter rapid eye movement (REM) duration in night 1 but longer REM latency in the mean of the 3 nights were observed in GAD in comparison to MDD. GAD patients also showed a significantly longer sleep onset latency and shorter duration of total sleep time and Stage 2 than control subjects. Electroencephalographic sleep recordings, as well as other laboratory tests, may help the clinician to differentiate anxiety from depressive disorders.
Papadimitriou
G N
GN
Athens University.
Kerkhofs
M
M
Kempenaers
C
C
Mendlewicz
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology