Cortisol and beta-endorphin responses to sleep deprivation in major depression--the hyperarousal theories of sleep deprivation.
To test theories that response to sleep deprivation in depression is the result of either stress reactions or down-regulation of hyperarousal, the early morning cortisol and beta-endorphin levels of depressed sleep deprivation responders and nonresponders before and after sleep deprivation were compared (areas under the curve of 8 blood samples between 7:30 and 10 a.m.). The beta-endorphin response was significantly different in responders and nonresponders, whereas all other comparisons remained nonsignificant. The results do not support theories that sleep deprivation acts as a stressor, but are not contradictory to the hyperarousal hypothesis of sleep deprivation.
Ebert
D
D
Psychiatric Clinic, University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, FRG.
Kaschka
W P
WP
Loew
T
T
Beck
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000502:physiology*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood*
D001615:beta-Endorphin; D006854:Hydrocortisone