ANTIDEPRESSANT RESPONSES AND CHANGES IN VISUAL-ADAPTATION AFTER SLEEP-DEPRIVATION

The effects of 1 night of total Sleep deprivation on mood state and vi sual light-dark adaptation were studied in 15 patients with major depr ession and nine normal comparison subjects. Mood improvements were evi dent in all but one patient, although responders (n = 9) could be easi ly distinguished from nonresponders (n = 6). No significant group diff erences were found in ocular responses before treatment. After treatme nt, however, light-adapted peak corneofundal potentials increased in p atient responders and decreased in patient nonresponders and normal su bjects. Moreover, changes in peak values were closely correlated (r = -0.74) with changes in scores on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. In contrast, dark-adapted trough potentials did not distinguish betwe en diagnostic groups and were not correlated with clinical responses. The results indicate that sleep deprivation induces changes in light s ensitivity that are proportional to improvements in depressive state,