CSF LEVELS OF DIAZEPAM-BINDING INHIBITOR CORRELATE WITH REM LATENCY IN SCHIZOPHRENIA, A PILOT-STUDY

CSF diazepam-binding inhibitor-like immunoreactivity (DBI-LI) and poly somnography were studied in 28 drug-free male schizophrenic (DSM-III-R ) patients. They underwent a three-night polysomnography evaluation an d a lumbar puncture. CSF DBI-LI correlated positively with REM latency , the REM latency/2(d) nonREM period ratio and stage-4% sleep, and neg atively with stage-1% sleep. CSF DBI-LI did not correlate significantl y with duration of sleep or sleep latency. CSF DBI-LI during haloperid ol treatment did not correlate significantly with sleep EEG measures. The results of this first study of the relationship between endogenous DBI and sleep in humans suggest that physiological effects of DBI oth er than interactions with the BZD/GABA(A) receptor complex may explain its positive effects on sleep. However, the absence of similar sleep data in normal subjects precludes us from establishing a specific rela tionship between DBI and sleep in schizophrenia.