FLUOXETINE AND OCULOMOTOR ACTIVITY DURING SLEEP IN DEPRESSED-PATIENTS

The effects of fluoxetine on automated measures of electrooculographic (EGG) and electromyographic (EMG) activity were evaluated in 41 patie nts with nonpsychotic, major depressive disorder. Sleep EEG evaluation s were conducted at baseline, while patients were symptomatic and unme dicated, and following four to five weeks of treatment with fluoxetine (20 mg). The number of eye movements (>75 mu V) and the amplitude of EOG and EMG activity increased significantly on treatment in REM, stag es 1, 2, and slow-wave sleep. All patients showed EOG and EMG abnormal ities in at least one stage of sleep. Thirty-four percent of patients showed increased EOG and EMG activity on treatment in every sleep stag e. It is suggested that fluoxetine-induced oculomotor abnormalities ar e likely to be the result of increased availability of serotonin and s econdary dopaminergic effects.