Sleep measurements in women with dysthymic disorder and insomnia

Abstract

To determine the effects of trazodone, mirtazapine and hydroxyzine on sleep profiles of dysthymic disorder (DD) women with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment and compare their polysomnographic measurements with controls. Among 36 patients trazodone receiving (n=9), mirtazapine receiving (n=8), hydroxyzine receiving (n=8) and only SSRI receiving (n=11) patients were compared to each other and to controls in terms of polysomnographic (PSG) findings. Rapid eye movements (REM) ratio and sleep onset time (SO) were higher; slow wave sleep (non-REM3) ratio and total sleep duration (TSD)) and sleep efficiency (SE) were lower in patients when compared with controls. Increased REM ratio and SO; decreased non-REM3 ratio and TSD and SE were found in both only SSRI receiving patients and hydroxyzine receiving patients when compared with controls. Only SSRI receiving patients also showed increased non-REM1 ratio. Trazodone or mirtazapine receiving patients showed no difference than controls. When PSG assessment is considered, it can be suggested that both trazodone and mirtazapine improve sleep problems in DD patients with SSRI treatment, but hydroxyzine does not.