Circadian pattern of motor activity in major depressed patients undergoing antidepressant therapy: relationship between actigraphic measures and clinical course.
The 24-hour motor activity pattern was evaluated in 26 inpatients with major depression at treatment onset and after 4 weeks of antidepressant therapy. Clinical state, depression, and psychomotor retardation, as well as motor activity level and circadian rhythm, were simultaneously assessed. Treatment responders and nonresponders were also considered. Diurnal hypoactivity and reduced 24-hour rhythm amplitude were found at treatment onset. Activity level increased significantly on discharge. The rest-activity cycle for each depressed patient fit a cosine function of 24-hour periodicity. Data tended to show no phase shift but a large intragroup phase variability. Preliminary findings of a negative correlation between basic activity level and clinical improvement, and a trend toward responders having a lower activity level than nonresponders, suggest that activity could be used to predict therapeutic response.
Raoux
N
N
Research Unit 302, Psychopathology and Pharmacology of Behavior, Hôpital de la Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
Benoit
O
O
Dantchev
N
N
Denise
P
P
Franc
B
B
Allilaire
J F
JF
Widlöcher
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology
D000928:Antidepressive Agents