Work

Examining the effects of sleep delay on depressed males and females and healthy controls

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Individuals with major depressive disorder typically exhibit sleep electroencephalograpy abnormalities which have been shown to vary by sex. Recent research has shown that depressed males display deficits in slow wave sleep and delta electroencephalograph (EEG) activity that are not apparent in depressed females. This may suggest that males and females with depression vary with respect to their homeostatic regulation of sleep. Utilizing archival data, the present study examined the effects of a 3-h sleep delay, which represents a mild sleep challenge, on slow wave activity in healthy controls and individuals with depression. All participants slept in the laboratory for three sequential nights. On the third night in the laboratory, the participants' bedtime was delayed by 3 h. Slow wave activity was calculated utilizing power spectral analysis and compared across groups. Following the sleep delay, males with depression exhibited the lowest slow wave activity compared to all other groups. These results may suggest that males with depression are at a greater risk for homeostatic dysregulation than females, and may require specialized intervention.

Source: Journal of Sleep Research

DOI: 10.1111/jsr.12174

Authors: Jennifer R. Goldschmied, Philip Cheng, Roseanne Armitage, Patricia J. Deldin

Institution: University of Michigan

Language: English

Topic: Sleep and related disorders

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: National Institutes of Health