Photic memory for executive brain responses.

Light is a powerful stimulant for human alertness and cognition, presumably acting through a photoreception system that heavily relies on the photopigment melanopsin. In humans, evidence for melanopsin involvement in light-driven cognitive stimulation remains indirect, due to the difficulty to selectively isolate its contribution. Therefore, a role for melanopsin in human cognitive regulation remains to be established. Here, sixteen participants underwent consecutive and identical functional MRI recordings, during which they performed a simple auditory detection task and a more difficult auditory working memory task, while continuously exposed to the same test light (515 nm). We show that the impact of test light on executive brain responses depends on the wavelength of the light to which individuals were exposed prior to each recording. Test-light impact on executive responses in widespread prefrontal areas and in the pulvinar increased when the participants had been exposed to longer (589 nm), but not shorter (461 nm), wavelength light, more than 1 h before. This wavelength-dependent impact of prior light exposure is consistent with recent theories of the light-driven melanopsin dual states. Our results emphasize the critical role of light for cognitive brain responses and are, to date, the strongest evidence in favor of a cognitive role for melanopsin, which may confer a form of "photic memory" to human cognitive brain function.

Ultradian sleep cycles: Frequency, duration, and associations with individual and environmental factors-A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Sleep varies between individuals in response to sleep-wake history and various environmental factors, including light and noise. Here we report on the intranight variation of the ultradian nonrapid eye movement-rapid eye movement (NREM-REM) sleep cycle in 369 participants who have contributed to different laboratory studies from 1994 to 2020 at the Centre for Chronobiology, Basel, Switzerland. RESULTS: We observed a large interindividual variability in sleep cycle duration, including NREM and REM sleep episodes in healthy participants who were given an 8-hour sleep opportunity at habitual bedtime in controlled laboratory settings. The median sleep cycle duration was 96 minutes out of 6064 polysomnographically-recorded cycles. The number and duration of cycles were not normally distributed, and the distribution became narrower for NREM sleep and wider for REM sleep later in the night. The first cycle was consistently shorter than subsequent cycles, and moderate presleep light or nocturnal noise exposure had no significant effects on ultradian sleep cycle duration. Age and sex significantly affected NREM and REM sleep duration, with older individuals having longer NREM and shorter REM sleep particularly in the end of the night, and females having longer NREM sleep episodes. High sleep pressure (ie, sleep deprivation) and low sleep pressure (ie, multiple naps) altered ultradian sleep cycles, with high sleep pressure leading to longer NREM sleep in the first cycle, and low sleep pressure leading to longer REM sleep episodes. Positive correlations were observed between N2 and NREM duration, and between N1 and REM duration. Weak intrasleep REM sleep homeostasis was also evident in our data set. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that ultradian sleep cycles are endogenous biological rhythms modulated by age, sex, and sleep homeostasis, but not directly responsive to (moderate levels of) environmental cues in healthy good sleepers.

Does the circadian modulation of dream recall modify with age?

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The ultradian NREM-REM sleep cycle and the circadian modulation of REM sleep sum to generate dreaming. Here we investigated age-related changes in dream recall, number of dreams, and emotional domain characteristics of dreaming during both NREM and REM sleep. DESIGN: Analysis of dream recall and sleep EEG (NREM/REM sleep) during a 40-h multiple nap protocol (150 min of wakefulness and 75 min of sleep) under constant routine conditions. SETTING: Centre for Chronobiology, Psychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS: Seventeen young (20-31 years) and 15 older (57-74 years) healthy volunteers INTERVENTIONS: N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Dream recall and number of dreams varied significantly across the circadian cycle and between age groups, with older subjects exhibiting fewer dreams (P < 0.05), particularly after naps scheduled during the biological day, closely associated with the circadian rhythm of REM sleep. No significant age differences were observed for the emotional domain of dream content. CONCLUSIONS: Since aging was associated with attenuated amplitude in the circadian modulation of REM sleep, our data suggest that the age-related decrease in dream recall can result from an attenuated circadian modulation of REM sleep.

Chronobiology, excessive daytime sleepiness and depression: Is there a link?

The complaint of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), commonly encountered in clinical practice, may arise from a variety of psychiatric disorders, most importantly depression. Even though EDS frequently leads depressed patients to seek medical assistance, it is commonly under-evaluated and under-diagnosed. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding and management of EDS is essential in the clinical assessment of depression. Within a theoretical framework, a chronobiological approach may shed new light on the complex interaction of EDS and depression. In this review, studies on EDS and depression are summarized and discussed within the context of circadian and sleep regulatory mechanisms. Furthermore, potential chronobiological therapeutic strategies are proposed to address some of the unmet needs in the treatment of EDS and depression.

Sleep disorders and suicidal ideation in patients with depressive disorder.

An intrinsic association between suicidal ideation and sleep disorders in patients with depressive disorder has been observed in recent studies. This study was conducted in order to examine the relationship between suicidal ideation and sleep disorders, such as insomnia and excessive sleepiness, in outpatients with major depressive disorder. Seventy patients with diagnoses of major depressive disorder were interviewed and assessed with the Sleep Habits Questionnaire and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI). Data analyses were performed through descriptive analysis, Students t-test, Chi-square test and logistic regression model, with a statistical significance of 5%. In this study, depressed patients had high SSI scores (6.12+/-2.67), particularly for active suicidal ideation (1.61+/-0.39) and specific plans for suicide components (1.51+/-0.40). Depressed patients with insomnia had significantly higher SSI scores (7.39+/-2.84), in relation to patients with excessive sleepiness (3.68+/-1.73). Furthermore it was observed that insomniac patients had significantly higher scores on the following components: active suicide ideation, specific plans for suicide and previous suicide attempts. The results of multivariate analysis showed that only insomnia had a significant association with suicidal ideation. Thus, sleep disturbances, particularly insomnia, should be considered in the assessment of suicidal risk in outpatients with depressive disorder.

Excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with depressive disorder.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with depressive disorder and to examine its association with the severity of depression and suicidal ideation. METHOD: Seventy patients were interviewed and assessed by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI). Descriptive analysis, Pearson correlations and Student's t-test were used for data analyses. RESULTS: Most of the patients (57.1%) obtained high scores on the ESS. Correlation was positive and strongly significant between ESS scores and BDI scores, as well as between ESS scores and SSI scores. Patients with high ESS scores obtained higher mean BDI and SSI scores in comparison to patients with lower ESS scores. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were encountered when the patients with higher (> or = 10) and lower (< 10) ESS scores were compared in terms of total ESS, BDI and SSI scores. CONCLUSIONS: Excessive daytime sleepiness was frequent among patients and significantly associated with higher levels of depression and particularly with suicidal ideation. Thus, a careful investigation of daytime sleepiness in depressed patients is required during clinical evaluation.

Ultradian and circadian modulation of dream recall: EEG correlates and age effects.

Dreaming occurs during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which both are regulated by homeostatic, ultradian, and circadian processes. However, the magnitude of how ultradian REM and NREM sleep and its EEG correlates impact onto dream recall remains fairly unknown. In this review, we address three questions: 1. Is there an ultradian NREM-REM sleep modulation in successful dream recall, which is gated by the circadian clock? 2. What are the key electrophysiological correlates that account for dream recall during NREM and REM sleep and 3. Are there age-related changes in the ultradian and circadian regulation in dream recall and its electrophysiological correlates? Knowledge on the specific frequency and topography NREM and REM sleep differences prior to dream recall may pinpoint to the cerebral correlates that account for this cognitive process, and hint to their possible physiological meaning.

Cortical activation patterns herald successful dream recall after NREM and REM sleep.

Dreaming pertains to both REM and NREM sleep. However, frequency and regional specific differences in EEG activity remains controversial. We investigated NREM and REM sleep EEG power density associated with and without dream recall in 17 young subjects during a 40-h multiple nap protocol under constant routine conditions. NREM sleep was associated with lower EEG power density for dream recall in the delta range, particularly in frontal derivations, and in the spindle range in centro-parietal derivations. REM sleep was associated with low frontal alpha activity and with high alpha and beta activity in occipital derivations. Our data indicate that specific EEG frequency- and topography changes underlie differences between dream recall and no recall after both NREM and REM sleep awakening. This dual NREM-REM sleep modulation holds strong implications for the mechanistic understanding of this complex ongoing cognitive process.

Can light make us bright? Effects of light on cognition and sleep.

Light elicits robust nonvisual effects on numerous physiological and behavioral variables, such as the human sleep-wake cycle and cognitive performance. Light effects crucially rely on properties such as dose, duration, timing, and wavelength. Recently, the use of methods such as fMRI to assess light effects on nonvisual brain responses has revealed how light can optimize brain function during specific cognitive tasks, especially in tasks of sustained attention. In this chapter, we address two main issues: how light impinges on cognition via consolidation of human sleep-wake cycles; and how light directly impacts on sleep and cognition, in particular in tasks of sustained attention. A thorough understanding of how light affects sleep and cognitive performance may help to improve light settings at home and at the workplace in order to improve well-being.

Non-visual effects of light on melatonin, alertness and cognitive performance: can blue-enriched light keep us alert?

BACKGROUND: Light exposure can cascade numerous effects on the human circadian process via the non-imaging forming system, whose spectral relevance is highest in the short-wavelength range. Here we investigated if commercially available compact fluorescent lamps with different colour temperatures can impact on alertness and cognitive performance. METHODS: Sixteen healthy young men were studied in a balanced cross-over design with light exposure of 3 different light settings (compact fluorescent lamps with light of 40 lux at 6500K and at 2500K and incandescent lamps of 40 lux at 3000K) during 2 h in the evening. RESULTS: Exposure to light at 6500K induced greater melatonin suppression, together with enhanced subjective alertness, well-being and visual comfort. With respect to cognitive performance, light at 6500K led to significantly faster reaction times in tasks associated with sustained attention (Psychomotor Vigilance and GO/NOGO Task), but not in tasks associated with executive function (Paced Visual Serial Addition Task). This cognitive improvement was strongly related with attenuated salivary melatonin levels, particularly for the light condition at 6500K. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the sensitivity of the human alerting and cognitive response to polychromatic light at levels as low as 40 lux, is blue-shifted relative to the three-cone visual photopic system. Thus, the selection of commercially available compact fluorescent lights with different colour temperatures significantly impacts on circadian physiology and cognitive performance at home and in the workplace.

Higher frontal EEG synchronization in young women with major depression: a marker for increased homeostatic sleep pressure?

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is often associated with disturbances in circadian and/or sleep-wake dependent processes, which both regulate daytime energy and sleepiness levels. DESIGN: Analysis of continuous electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings during 40 h of extended wakefulness under constant routine conditions. Artifact-free EEG samples derived from 12 locations were subjected to spectral analysis. Additionally, half-hourly ratings of subjective tension and sleepiness levels and salivary melatonin measurements were collected. SETTING: Centre for Chronobiology, Psychiatric Hospitals of the University of Basel, Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS: Eight young healthy women and 8 young untreated women with MDD. INTERVENTIONS: N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: MDD women exhibited higher frontal low-frequency (FLA) EEG activity (0.5-5.0 Hz) during extended wakefulness than controls, particularly during the night. Enhanced FLA was paralleled by higher levels of subjective sleepiness and tension. In MDD women, overall FLA levels correlated positively with depression scores. The timing of melatonin onset did not significantly differ between the two groups, but the nocturnal secretion of salivary melatonin was significantly attenuated in MDD women. CONCLUSIONS: Our data imply that young women with MDD live on a higher homeostatic sleep pressure level, as indexed by enhanced FLA during wakefulness. Its positive correlation with depression scores indicates a possible functional relationship. High FLA could reflect a use-dependent phenomenon in depression (enhanced cognitive rumination or tension) and/or an attenuated circadian arousal signal.

Sonolência excessiva diurna e depressão: causas, implicações clínicas e manejo terapêutico: [revisão] / Excessive daytime sleepiness and depression: causes, clinical implications, and therapeutic management: [review]

A sonolência excessiva diurna (SED) é frequentemente associada à depressão, e as possíveis relações entre as duas afecções são numerosas. A SED pode ocorrer devido a insônia ou hiperssonia. A sintomatologia da depressão inclui, notadamente, a insônia e a consequente SED, que podem ser, em alguns casos, sintomas residuais após a resposta ao tratamento antidepressivo. Paralelamente, a insônia e a sonolência diurna podem, inclusive, ser efeitos colaterais de curta ou longa duração do manejo terapêutico antidepressivo. Independente de a SED ser um sintoma de um quadro depressivo atual, sintoma residual de depressão prévia ou efeito colateral de medicação antidepressiva, faz-se necessária uma adequada avaliação clínica da SED na depressão. A fim de discorrer sobre as atuais evidências das investigações da SED na depressão, foi feito um levantamento da literatura médica nos bancos de dados ISI, MEDLINE e SciELO, compreendendo-se o período de 1990 a 2007. Apesar de os mecanismos responsáveis pela relação entre a sonolência diurna e a depressão serem complexos e entrelaçados, a avaliação compreensiva desse transtorno do sono desempenha um papel fundamental na predição de respostas ao manejo terapêutico, recaídas e modelos etiológicos da depressão.

Excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is often related to depression, and there are several possible relationships between them. EDS can usually occur due to either insomnia or hypersomnia. The symptomatology of depression prominently includes insomnia and the resultant EDS, which may, in such cases, be residual symptoms as a response to antidepressant treatment. Furthermore, insomnia and daytime sleepiness may be short- or long-term side effects of antidepressant treatment as well. The clinical assessment of depression should adequately address whether EDS is a symptom of current depression, a prior depression residual symptom, or a side effect of antidepressant medication. With the purpose of showing current evidence about the investigations of EDS related to depression, we conducted a review of the literature using the following databases: ISI, MEDLINE and SciELO from 1990 to 2007. Although the underlying mechanisms of EDS in depression are complex and intertwined, the comprehensive assessment of this sleep disorder plays a key role in areas related to the prediction of responses to treatment, relapses, and etiological models in depression.

Harmful phytoplankton blooms and fish mortality in a eutrophicated reservoir of northeast Brazil

The aim of this work was to study the eutrophication in the tropical freshwater ecosystems and the consequent cyanobacterial bloom formation and economical damage to fisheries and harmful effects to public health. Mass fish mortality due to toxin producing cyanobacterial blooms was registered during December 2003 in Marechal Dutra Reservoir, Acari/RN, Northeast Brazil. Phytoplankton and fish samplings were carried out on alternate days during the episode of fish mortality and monthly during January to June 2004. The cyanobacterial toxin was identified and quantified from the seston samples and liver of the dead fishes using the standard HPLC method. The results indicated that the toxic blooms of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii and Microcystis aeruginosa were persistent for two weeks and represented 90% of the phytoplankton species assemblages. The lethally affected fishes were Oreochromis niloticus, Plagioscion squamosissimus, Cichla monoculus, Prochilodus brevis, Hoplias malabaricus and Leporinus friderici. The microcystin levels varied from 0.07 to 8.73µg L-1 the seston samples and from 0.01 to 2.59µg g-1in the liver samples of the fishes during the bloom period.

Eutrofização em ecossistemas limnéticos tropicais e a conseqüente formação de cianobactérias causam prejuízo econômico à produção pesqueira e efeitos danosos à saúde publica. A mortalidade em massa de peixes devido à produção de cianobactérias tóxicas foi registrada em Dezembro 2003 na Barragem Marechal Dutra, Acari/RN, nordeste Brasileiro. Amostras de fitoplâncton e de peixes foram realizados em dias alternados durante o episódio de mortalidade em massa dos peixes e mensalmente durante Janeiro a Junho de 2004. A toxina das cianobactérias, presente no seston e no fígado dos peixes mortos, foi identificada e quantificada, utilizando o método HPLC padronizado. Os resultados indicaram que a produção de toxinas de Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii e Microcystis aeruginosa foram persistentes por duas semanas e representaram 90% da composição de espécies de fitoplâncton Os peixes afetados letalmente foram Oreochromis niloticus, Plagioscion squamosissimus, Cichla monoculus, Prochilodus brevis, Hoplias malabaricus e Leporinus friderici. Os níveis de microcistinas variaram entre 0,07 a 8,73µg L-1 nas amostras do seston e 0,01 a 2,59µg g-1 nas amostras no fígado dos peixes, durante o período de aflorescimento.

Qualidade subjetiva do sono em pacientes com transtorno depressivo / Subjective sleep quality in patients with depressive disorder

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade subjetiva do sono em pacientes com transtorno depressivo. Setenta pacientes (44 mulheres e 26 homens) ambulatoriais com diagnóstico de transtorno depressivo foram entrevistados e responderam ao Índice de Qualidade de Sono de Pittsburgh (IQSP), ao Questionário de Hábitos do Sono e ao Inventário de Depressão de Beck (BDI). As médias das pontuações globais do IQSP e BDI foram respectivamente 12,80 ± 3,77 e 35,83 ± 8,85, e a correlação foi positiva e significativa entre essas escalas (r = 0,70; p < 0,05). As pontuações globais do IQSP em pacientes com insônia (16,61 ± 4,21) e hipersonia (8,82 ± 2,71) apresentaram diferenças marcantes (p < 0,05). Os resultados da análise multivariada indicaram que apenas a insônia foi significativamente associada à qualidade subjetiva do sono (RC = 4,1; 95 por cento IC = 2,0-4,2). Os resultados sugerem que os pacientes da amostra apresentaram percepção inferior da qualidade subjetiva do sono, principalmente na insônia.

The aim of this study was to evaluate subjective sleep quality in patients with depressive disorder. Seventy outpatients (44 women and 26 men) with diagnosis of depressive disorder were interviewed and answered the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Sleep Habits questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Mean PSQI and BDI global scores were 12.80 ± 3.77 and 35.83 ± 8.85, respectively and correlation was positive and significant between these scales (r = 0.70; p < 0.05). The global PSQI scores of patients with insomnia (16.61 ± 4.21) and excessive sleepiness (8.82 ± 2.71) had marked differences (p < 0.05). The results of multivariate analysis indicated that only insomnia had a significant association with subjective sleep quality (OR = 4.1; 95 percent CI = 2.0-4.2). These results suggest that patients with depressive disorder of the study sample experienced poor subjective sleep quality, particularly in insomnia.

Confiabilidade e reprodutibilidade do Questionário de Hábitos do Sono em pacientes depressivos ambulatoriais / Reability and reproducibility of the Sleep Habits Questionnaire in depressed outpatients

CONTEXTO: Estudos recentes sugerem que, em concomitância com a avaliação clínica, a utilização de questionários do sono permite melhor caracterizar as queixas de sono alterado em pacientes depressivos. OBJETIVO: Determinar a confiabilidade e a reprodutibilidade do Questionário de Hábitos do Sono na identificação das queixas de transtornos do sono, como a insônia e a sonolência excessiva, em pacientes ambulatoriais com transtorno depressivo. MÉTODOS: Realizou-se um estudo transversal com uma amostra de 70 pacientes depressivos no ambulatório de psiquiatria de um hospital geral. Os pacientes foram entrevistados e avaliados por meio do Questionário de Hábitos do Sono em dois momentos, sendo utilizado um desenho de estudo de confiabilidade teste-reteste das respostas que foram analisadas e estimadas pelo coeficiente Kappa. RESULTADOS: Na análise de confiabilidade e de reprodutibilidade, o coeficiente Kappa obteve um nível de concordância forte (0,73 a 0,80) em grande parte das questões, com a maioria dos coeficientes acima de 0,75. CONCLUSÕES: O Questionário de Hábitos do Sono mostrou ser confiável na avaliação das queixas de insônia e de sonolência excessiva em pacientes depressivos ambulatoriais.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that, together with clinical assessment, sleep questionnaires can adequately characterize sleep complaints in depressed patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine reability and reproducibility of the Sleep Habits Questionnaire in the identification of sleep disorder complaints, such as insomnia and excessive sleepiness, in depressed outpatients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with a study sample of 70 depressed patients was conducted in the psychiatry outpatient unit of a general hospital. Patients were interviewed and evaluated by the Sleep Habits in two moments and the study design included a test-retest reliability of the answers, which were analyzed and estimated by means of Kappa coefficient. RESULTS: In the reliability and reproducibility analysis, the Kappa coefficient showed high levels of concordance (0.73 a 0.80) for most questions, and in most of the items coefficients were above 0.75. CONCLUSIONS: The Sleep Habits Questionnaire proved to be reliable for the evaluation of insomnia and excessive sleepiness complaints in depressed outpatients.

O sono e os transtornos do sono na depressão: [revisão] / Sleep and sleep disorders in depression: [review]

CONTEXTO: Os transtornos do sono são freqüentemente associados a um leque de transtornos psiquiátricos, sendo considerados uma característica inerente do transtorno depressivo. OBJETIVOS: Discorrer a cerca das atuais evidências sobre as investigações do sono e das alterações deste na depressão, além de alguns dos principais modelos teóricos propostos para explicar essas alterações. MÉTODOS: O levantamento da literatura médica foi feito nos seguintes bancos de dados: ISI e Medline. RESULTADOS: Diversos estudos constataram alterações no padrão eletroencefalográfico do sono em pacientes com depressão. Dentre os principais achados, estão alterações na continuidade e na duração do sono, diminuição das fases 3 e 4 do sono, menor latência do sono REM (rapid eye movements) e maior duração e densidade do primeiro período REM. Essa técnica tem atualmente uma utilidade limitada como ferramenta de diagnóstico na depressão. CONCLUSÕES: Embora os mecanismos fisiopatológicos das alterações do sono na depressão sejam complexos e de natureza multifacetada, os estudos do sono têm um importante papel na investigação da depressão, particularmente nas áreas de predição de resposta a tratamentos, prognóstico de recaídas e na investigação de modelos etiológicos.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders are usually associated with a wide range of psychiatric disorders, and are regarded as acharacteristic feature of depression. OBJECTIVES:To reportthe current state-of-the-artin sleep research in depression and to present some of the principal theoretical models that explain these sleep disturbances. METHODS: Literature review was carried out in the ISI and Medline databases. RESULTS: Several studies have indicated alterations in sleep electroencephalographic patterns in subjects with depression. Some of the most frequent findings are disorders affecting the continuity and duration of sleep, reduction of phases 3 and 4 of sleep, decreased REM (rapid eye movements) sleep latency, and prolonged and intense first period of REM sleep. This technique is currently of limited use as a diagnostic tool in depression. CONCLUSIONS: AAlthough the pathophysiological mechanisms of sleep disorders in depression are complex, sleep studies play a key role in investigative research in depression, particularly in areas regarding prediction of responses to treatment, prognosis of relapses, and etiological models regarding depression.

Excessive daytime sleepiness in patients with depressive disorder

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a incidência de sonolência diurna excessiva em pacientes com transtorno depressivo e examinar sua associação com a gravidade do quadro depressivo e ideação suicida. MÉTODO: Setenta pacientes foram entrevistados e avaliados através da Escala de Sonolência de Epworth (ESE), da Escala de Depressão de Beck BD e da Escala de Ideação Suicida de Beck (EIS). Análises descritivas, análise de correlação de Pearson e teste-t de Student foram utilizados para a análise dos dados. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos paciente (57,1%) apresentaram altas pontuações na ESE. Houve correlações positivas e fortes entre scores da ESE e BD e entre scores da ESE e EIS. Pacientes com altas pontuações na ESE obtiveram escores na BD e na EIS mais elevados do que os pacientes com baixos escores de ESE. Houve diferenças significativas (p < 0,05) entre pacientes com escores mais baixos (< 10) e mais elevados (> 10) na ESE, em relação às pontuações totais das ESE, EDB e EIS.CONCLUSÕES: A sonolência diurna excessiva foi freqüente nos pacientes e significativamente associada a maior gravidade da depressão e ideação suicida. Desta maneira, é necessária uma cuidadosa investigação da sonolência diurna excessiva em pacientes deprimidos durante a avaliação clínica.

Relevância clínica de pesadelos em pacientes com transtorno depressivo / Clinical significance of nightmares in patients with depressive disorder

INTRODUÇÃO: Diversos estudos sugerem uma estreita relação entre pesadelos e o transtorno depressivo. O objetivo deste estudo foi detectar a prevalência de pesadelos em pacientes com transtorno depressivo e observar sua relação com idade, sexo, tempo de doença, gravidade do quadro depressivo e ideação suicida. MÉTODOS: Sessenta pacientes foram entrevistados e avaliados por meio da escala de depressão de Beck (EDB) e da escala de ideação suicida de Beck (EIS). Os pesadelos foram avaliados segundo os critérios da DSM-IV para transtorno de pesadelos. A análise dos dados foi realizada mediante a análise descritiva e o teste-t de Student, com nível de significância de 5 por cento. RESULTADOS: Nesta amostra, houve prevalência de 60 por cento de pesadelos nos pacientes, com predominância entre mulheres. Os pacientes deprimidos com pesadelos apresentaram significativamente (p < 0,05) maior tempo de doença depressiva, média de pontuações mais elevadas nas duas escalas e nos itens sobre sensação de fracasso, alterações de sono e ideação suicida da EDB. DISCUSSÃO: Na amostra de pacientes deprimidos estudada, a presença de pesadelos foi relacionada com a gravidade do quadro depressivo e a presença de ideação suicida clinicamente marcante. Assim, os pesadelos devem ser considerados na avaliação de pacientes com transtorno depressivo.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have suggested a strong association between nightmares and depressive disorder. The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of nightmares among patients with depressive disorders and to observe its relationship with age, sex, duration of disease, severity of depression and suicidal ideation. METHODS: Sixty patients were interviewed and assessed by means of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI). Nightmares were assessed according to the DSM-IV criteria for Nightmare Disorder. Data analyses were performed by Descriptive analyses and Students t-test with statistical significance at p<0.05. RESULTS: Prevalence of 60 percent of nightmares was encountered among patients, with predominance among women. Depressed patients with nightmares had significantly (p < 0.05) longer duration of depressive disease, higher mean scores in both scales and in the items related to failure, sleep disturbances and suicidal ideation of the BDI. DISCUSSION: In the study sample, nightmares were associated with the severity of depression and clinically significant suicidal ideation. Thus, nightmares should be considered in the evaluation of patients with depressive disorder.

Transtornos do sono em pacientes ambulatoriais com depressão / Sleep disorders in outpatients with depressive disorder

CONTEXTO: Os transtornos do sono são uma característica marcante do transtorno depressivo e podem ocorrer nos primeiros estágios da depressão, antecipá-la ou ser um sintoma residual. OBJETIVO: Avaliar as queixas de transtornos do sono em pacientes ambulatoriais com transtorno depressivo de um hospital geral. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo observacional, transversal, com uma amostra de 70 pacientes (44 mulheres e 26 homens) com diagnóstico de transtorno depressivo, segundo os critérios da DSM-IV. Os pacientes foram entrevistados e avaliados por meio da ficha de identificação do questionário de hábitos de sono e do Inventário de Depressão de Beck (IDB). RESULTADOS: Neste estudo, 50 (71,3 por cento) pacientes apresentaram recorrência das queixas de transtornos do sono. A média dos escores obtida no IDB foi 35,83±8,85, com diferenças significativas entre os pacientes com (38,50±8,70) e sem (29,60±7,80) recorrência (p < 0,05) e entre pacientes com 1, 2, 3 e > 3 episódios (p < 0,05) de transtornos do sono. Neste estudo, 49 (70 por cento) pacientes apresentaram insônia e 21 (30 por cento), sonolência excessiva subjetiva. Houve diferença significativa entre a duração média em meses dos transtornos do sono (7,16±2,10) e do transtorno depressivo (6,12±1,90) (p < 0,05). DISCUSSÃO: Na amostra estudada, à recorrência das queixas de transtornos do sono foi elevada e associada significativamente a depressão mais grave. Houve prevalência de insônia, e a duração média dos transtornos do sono foi maior em relação à do transtorno depressivo.

BACKGROUND: Sleep disorders are a characteristic feature of depressive disorder and can occur in the first stages of depression, anticipate it or act as a residual symptom. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate sleep disorder complaints in outpatients with depressive disorder from a general hospital. METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional study was carried out with a test group of 70 patients (44 women and 26 men) with diagnosis of depressive disorder, according to the DSM-IV criteria. The patients were interviewed and evaluated by the Identification Questionnaire, the Sleep Habits Questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). RESULTS: In this study, 50 (71.3 percent) patients had recurrence of sleep disorder complaints. Mean BDI score was 35.83+8.85, with significant differences between patients with (38.50+8.70) and without (29.60+7.80) recurrence (p < 0.05) and among patients with 1, 2, 3 and > 3 episodes (p < 0.05). In this study, 49 (70 percent) patients had insomnia and 21 (30 percent) had excessive sleepiness. Significant differences were observed between the mean duration in months of the sleep disorders (7.16+2.10) and the depressive disorder (6.12+1.90) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the study sample, recurrence of sleep disorder complaints was high and significantly associated with severe depression. Insomnia was prevalent and the mean duration of sleep disorders was higher in relation to depressive disorder.