Changes in EEG power density of non-REM sleep in depressed patients during treatment with trazodone.
Recently, it was hypothesized that acute or cumulative suppression of non-REM sleep intensity might be related to the therapeutic effects of antidepressants. This intensity has been proposed to be expressed in the EEG power density in non-REM sleep. In the present study, the relationship was examined between the changes of EEG power density in non-REM sleep and the changes in clinical state in 8 depressed patients during treatment with trazodone. A 1-week wash-out period was followed by 1 week of placebo administration, a medication period of 5 weeks and a 1-week placebo period. To minimize systematic influences of sleep duration and non-REM-REM sleep alterations, EEG power was measured over the longest common amount of non-REM sleep stages 2-4 (168.5 min), accumulated from sleep onset onwards. During trazodone treatment, the 13- and 14-Hz bins showed a significant reduction in EEG power. No clear-cut change, however, was observed in the EEG power of the delta frequency range (1-4 Hz) which is considered to be the principle manifestation of non-REM sleep intensity. Furthermore, no overall significant relationship between EEG power suppression and clinical improvement could be demonstrated.
Van Bemmel
A L
AL
Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Beersma
D G
DG
Van den Hoofdakker
R H
RH
D000328:Adult; D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000187:drug effects*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000187:drug effects*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000187:drug effects; D014196:Trazodone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018687:Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; D014196:Trazodone