EEG sleep in depressed adolescents

Abstract

Sleep disturbances, including disturbances in REM [rapid eye movement] sleep, are common among depressed adults; it is unclear if the same is true for depressed adolescents. The sleep of 13 depressed adolescents and 13 normal age-matched controls was monitored. They found that, as with depressed adults, REM latency was significantly shorter and REM density significantly greater in the depressed group. There was no correlation between reduced REM latency and severity of depression, but there was a significant negative correlation between REM latency and age.