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REM sleep in depression is influenced by ethnicity.

Authors :
Poland RE
Rao U
Lutchmansingh P
McCracken JT
Lesser IM
Edwards C
Ott GE
Lin KM
Source :
Psychiatry research [Psychiatry Res] 1999 Nov 08; Vol. 88 (2), pp. 95-105.
Publication Year :
1999

Abstract

The influence of ethnicity on the manifestation of EEG sleep changes in depression was studied in 95 patients (21 African-Americans [AA], 17 Asians [AS], 37 Caucasians [C] and 20 Hispanics [H]) with unipolar major depression. Subjects were studied twice for 2 consecutive nights. On the second night of each 2-night session, placebo or scopolamine (1.5 microg/kg, IM, at 23.00 h) was administered. On the baseline (placebo) night, sleep architecture, sleep continuity and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep variables were generally comparable among the groups. However, REM sleep was less in AA and AS subjects than in C and H subjects. Furthermore, the distribution of REM sleep over the course of the night in AA and AS subjects differed significantly from that in the C and H groups. Although scopolamine significantly affected sleep continuity and REM sleep measures, no significant differential effects of scopolamine were observed. Because many antidepressants suppress REM sleep, the differences in baseline REM sleep observed might be related to the greater sensitivity of some ethnic-minority depressed patients to pharmacotherapy.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
0165-1781
Volume :
88
Issue :
2
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Psychiatry research
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
10622346
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-1781(99)00080-3