The timing of sleep in depression: theoretical considerations.
Endogenously depressed subjects frequently show severe sleep problems. In this article sleep time in depression is discussed in relation to a recently developed model for sleep timing in healthy subjects. In terms of the model, two parameter sets survive a qualitative comparison with the empirical data. These are a deficient increase of sleep need (process S) and, alternatively, an increased amplitude of random fluctuations in the wake threshold (process C). Distinct predictions based on these alternatives are discussed.
D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors