CAN RESPONSE TO PARTIAL SLEEP-DEPRIVATION IN DEPRESSED-PATIENTS BE PREDICTED BY REGIONAL CHANGES OF CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW

The possible predictive value of regional cerebral perfusion patterns with respect to the response to partial sleep deprivation (PSD) was ev aluated in 15 major depressive patients (mean age = 54.9 years, mean H amilton depression score = 21.6). Patients were studied with single ph oton emission computed tomography with technetium-99 m-D,L-hexamethyl- propylene ammine oxime. Scans were performed on the morning before and after (at 08.00 h) PSD. Responders to PSD had significantly higher pe rfusion in the right orbitofrontal cortex than did non-responders befo re PSD. Multiple regression analysis indicated that right orbitofronta l/basal cingulate perfusion (r = -0.77, P < 0.001) before PSD, and lef t inferior temporal perfusion (r = 0.59, P = 0.01) after PSD, were fai rly accurate predictors of change in Hamilton depression scores. Thus, it appears that the orbitofrontal cortex and the cingulate are involv ed in PSD and may serve as predictors of therapeutic response. (C) 199 7 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.