POSTSTROKE SLEEP DISORDER TREATED WITH THE SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITOR CITALOPRAM - A CASE-STUDY

Even though stroke patients not uncommonly suffer from sleep disturban ce, post-stroke sleep disorder is one of the least studied sequela of stroke, We present a case study providing polysommographic evidence fo r the successful alleviation of persistent insomnia in a non-depressed stroke patient by treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inh ibitor citalopram. During open treatment with citalopram the patient's sleep efficiency index improved considerably, and REM latency gradual ly increased. Possible causes of post-stroke insomnia are discussed, a nd the suggestion is made that past-stroke sleep disorder might possib ly be attributable to stroke-induced disruption of pathway involved in the neurophysiology of sleep, e,g, serotonergic neurotransmission.