Nocturnal sweating and temperature in depression

Objective: Patients with depression may have altered thermoregulation, such as high nocturnal core temperatures, decreased daytime sweating and subjec tive complaints of nocturnal sweating. We sought to compare nocturnal sweat ing in depressed patients and non-depressed controls, and to assess the imp act of REM sleep on sweat rates. Method: Nocturnal sweat rate, nocturnal temperature and REM sleep were meas ured during the night in 9 controls and 8 depressed subjects; 7 depressed p atients were assessed during recovery. Results: The nocturnal temperature was significantly higher in depressed pa tients compared to controls, and decreased significantly with recovery. The nocturnal sweat rates of depressed patients did not differ significantly f rom those of controls, but decreased significantly with recovery. Analyses of sweat rates before, during and after REM sleep indicated a trend for the entire sample to show a decrease in sweat rates during REM. Conclusion: The nocturnal sweating rates in the depressed patients suggest that impaired sweating is not the cause of the high nocturnal temperature c ommonly found in depressed patients.