Mie examined whether fluoxetine; treatment has persistent effects an electr
oencephalographic sleep after drug discontinuation in patients with recurre
nt major depression. Age-matched groups of 23 women were treated with inter
personal psychotherapy alone (IPT) or fluoxetins pins interpersonal psychot
herapy (IPT +FLU). Sleep studies were conducted when patients were depresse
d, and again at remission, at least four weeks after fluoxetine discontinua
tion. The groups did not differ in depression ratings pre- to post-treatmen
t. Significant group*time interaction effects were noted for REM sleep (p =
.04) and slow wave sleep (p = .02). REM percentage and phasic REM activity
increased in the IPT + FLU group but decreased in the IPT group. The effec
ts of fluoxetine; treatment an electroencephalographic sleep can be observe
d for at least four weeks after drug discontinuation and appear to represen
t both drug discontinuation and neuroadaptation effects. (C) 1999 American
College of Neuropsychopharmacology. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.