Can chronic neuroleptic treatment promote sleep disturbances in elderly schizophrenic patients?
It has been proposed that sleep disturbances, especially reduced delta sleep, are related to a poor outcome in schizophrenia. To determine whether long-term treatment with neuroleptics can promote sleep disturbances by increasing the risk of a nocturnal myoclonus syndrome (NMS) (=periodic movements in sleep) related insomnia, we performed all-night polysomnography in 10 chronically ill schizophrenic patients who had been under neuroleptic therapy for a mean of 27 years. NMS-related insomnia was detected in all 10 patients. Potential pathophysiological relationships between long-term neuroleptic therapy and NMS occurrence are discussed. Our findings suggest that long-term administration of neuroleptics favours the appearance of insomnia.
Staedt
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany. Staedt@Medizin.Uni-Magdeburg.de
Dewes
D
D
Danos
P
P
Stoppe
G
G
D000368:Aged; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003700:Delta Rhythm; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020189:Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000187:drug effects; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents