HYPERSOMNIA ASSOCIATED WITH MOOD DISORDERS - A NEW PERSPECTIVE

Thirty-six subjects affected with hypersomnia associated with mood dis orders, 31 with a diagnosis of dysthymia, 4 with a diagnosis of bipola r disorder and one with a diagnosis of major recurrent depression unde rwent standardized polysomnographic procedures including night 1, MSLT and night 2 (uninterrupted). 36.1% of these subjects had a reduced or intermediate mean sleep latency on the MSLT and 13.8% slept over 9 hr at night. In addition 17 of these subjects underwent prolonged polyso mnography during day 2. In comparison with eight subjects affected wit h idiopathic hypersomnia, mean sleep latency on the MSLT was significa ntly longer and total sleep time during night 2 and during night 2 plu s day 2 was significantly lower in subjects affected with hypersomnia associated with mood disorders. It is concluded that a positive diagno sis of hypersomnia associated with a mood disorder requires both behav ioral observation and polysomnography. Among these subjects there may be subjects with well-documented hypersomnia and subjects with anergia facilitating or mimicking sleep.