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EEG slow wave activity regulation in major depression

EEG-Slow-Wave-Aktivität bei Patienten mit Major Depression

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Somnologie - Schlafforschung und Schlafmedizin Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Question of the study

Sleep disturbances, including reduced slow wave activity (SWA), are among the most consistently replicated biological alterations in major depression. According to the two-process model of sleep regulation, SWA is homoeostatically regulated as a function of prior waking time. This study aimed to further elucidate SWA regulation in major depression.

Methods

All-night spectral analysis was performed before and after therapeutic sleep deprivation in N=20 patients suffering from major depression. Recovery sleep was studied at 1700 h after 34 h of waking time (n=10) and at 0200 h after 43 h of waking time (n=10)

Results

A significantly lower increase of SWA from baseline to recovery sleep was observed after 43 h versus 34 h of waking time

Conclusion

The finding of a lower SWA increase after 43 h versus 34 h of waking time may indicate a circadian modulation of SWA and is in line with previous findings of studies investigating extended sleep durations or the relationships of SWA and circadian endocrine systems.

Zusammenfassung

Fragestellung

Schlafstörungen, einschließlich reduzierter EEG-Slow-Wave-Aktivität (SWA), gehören zu den am besten replizierten biologischen Auffälligkeiten depressiver Störungen. Gemäß dem Zwei-Prozess-Modell der Schlafregulation unterliegt die SWA einer homöostatischen Regulation in Abhängigkeit der vorangegangenen Wachzeit. Ziel der Studie was es, die Regulation der SWA bei Patienten mit Major Depression näher zu untersuchen.

Methoden

Eine Spektralanalyse des Schlaf-EEGs wurde bei N=20 depressive Patienten vor und nach therapeutischem Schlafentzug durchgeführt. Der Erholungsschlaf wurde zu zwei unterschiedlichen Zeitpunkten aufgezeichnet, um 17.00 Uhr nach 34-h-Wachzeit (n=10) und um 2.00 Uhr nach 43-h-Wachzeit (n=10).

Ergebnisse

Nach 43-h-Wachzeit wurde ein signifikant geringerer Anstieg der SWA gemessen als nach 34-h-Wachzeit.

Diskussion

Die Beobachtung eines geringeren SWA-Anstiegs nach längerer Wachzeit könnte auf eine zirkadiane Modulation der SWA hinweisen

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany

    Christoph Nissen, Bernd Feige, Ulrich Voderholzer, Mathias Berger & Dieter Riemann

  2. Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O'Hara Street, 15213-2593, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Eric A. Nofzinger

Authors
  1. Christoph Nissen
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  2. Bernd Feige
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  3. Eric A. Nofzinger
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  4. Ulrich Voderholzer
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  5. Mathias Berger
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  6. Dieter Riemann
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Correspondence to Christoph Nissen.

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Nissen, C., Feige, B., Nofzinger, E.A. et al. EEG slow wave activity regulation in major depression. Somnologie 10, 36–42 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/j.1439-054X.2006.00083.x

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