Sleep EEG studies during early and late partial sleep deprivation in premenstrual dysphoric disorder and normal control subjects

In this study of 23 patients with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) an d 18 normal comparison (NC) subjects, we examined sleep EEG measures during baseline midfollicular (MF) and late luteal (LL) menstrual cycle phases an d after early sleep deprivation (ESD), in which subjects slept from 03.00 t o 07.00 h, and late sleep deprivation (LSD), in which subjects slept from 2 1.00 to 01.00 h. Each sleep deprivation night was followed by a night of re covery sleep (ESD-R, LSD-R) (sleep 22.30-06.30 h) and was administered in t he late luteal phase of separate menstrual cycles. During baseline studies, sleep EEG measures differed significantly by menstrual cycle phase, but no t group. Both PMDD and NC groups showed longer REM latencies and less REM s leep (minutes and percent) during the luteal compared with the follicular m enstrual cycle phase. PMDD subjects, however, did not show sleep architectu re changes similar to those of patients with major depressive disorders. Sl eep quality was better during recovery nights of sleep in PMDD compared wit h NC subjects. REM sleep measures changed in association with clinical impr ovement in responders to sleep deprivation. Both early and late sleep depri vation may help to correct underlying circadian rhythm disturbances during sleep in PMDD, although differential sleep changes during ESD vs. LSD did n ot correlate with clinical response. Further sleep studies addressing addit ional circadian variables may serve to elucidate mechanisms mediating the t herapeutic effects of sleep deprivation in PMDD. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.