CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE THEORIES ADVANCED TO EXPLAIN SHORT REM-SLEEPLATENCIES AND OTHER SLEEP ANOMALIES IN SEVERAL PSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS

One of the most consistent and most studied sleep modifications in sev eral psychiatric conditions is the shortening of the rapid eye movemen t (REM) sleep latency. While its clinical usefulness is still to be pr oven and its meaning relatively obscure, the appearance of a short REM latency continues to be a daily fact in sleep laboratories. Many theo ries compete to explain what is observed, the most important being the circadian rhythm hypotheses, the homeostatic model and the reciprocal interaction model. These three are summarised and their pros and cons are exposed in a systematic manner. Points of conflict, possible conv ergences and limitations are discussed in the light of recent developm ents on the general theories of sleep regulation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd.