Sleep disturbances and depression: a challenge for antidepressants.
Sleep disturbances are commonly experienced by depressed patients, and abnormalities of sleep architecture are among the most robust psychobiological correlates of major depression. Most antidepressants alter the physiological patterns of sleep and eventually improve sleep symptoms, along with other symptoms of depression. However, many antidepressants also have unwanted adverse effects on sleep, notably by causing or worsening insomnia, daytime sleepiness or sedation. This article briefly reviews the biology of sleep, the sleep disturbances associated with depression, and the therapeutic and adverse effects of antidepressants on sleep. It also describes a novel antidepressant, agomelatine, which improves symptoms of depression and rapidly relieves sleep complaints without sedative effects.
Lam
Raymond W
RW
Division of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia (UBC) and Mood Disorders Centre of Excellence, UBC Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
D000081:Acetamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D009281:Naphthalenes
D000081:Acetamides; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; C084711:agomelatine; D009281:Naphthalenes