THE EFFECT OF FLUOXETINE ON SLEEP EEG IN CHILDHOOD DEPRESSION - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Fluoxetine is associated with substantial objective and subjective sle ep disturbance in adults with major depressive disorders. In this prel iminary report, the effects of fluoxetine on sleep electroencephologra m (EEG) are described in 6 children and adolescents with nonpsychotic major depression. Fluoxetine increased light Stage 1 sleep, the number of arousals and rapid eye movement (REM) density. REM latency was lar gely unaffected. Oculomotor abnormalities were also evident on treatme nt, accompanied by an increase in myoclonic activity. Subjective sleep was also disturbed on treatment. These results are in keeping with th ose observed in depressed adults treated with fluoxetine. (C) 1997 Ame rican College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Published by Elsevier Scienc e Inc.