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Electroencephalographic sleep in panic disorder. A focus on sleep-related panic attacks
1Unit on Anxiety and Affective Disorders, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Md 20892.
Archives of General Psychiatry
|February 1, 1989
Summary
Patients with panic disorder exhibit disturbed sleep patterns, including longer sleep latency and reduced sleep efficiency. Sleep panic attacks originate from non-REM sleep, with no significant impact on overall sleep disturbance.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Sleep Medicine
- Psychiatry
Background:
- Panic disorder is a condition characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks.
- Sleep disturbances are frequently reported in patients with panic disorder.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sleep patterns in patients with panic disorder.
- To characterize the sleep stage preceding nocturnal panic attacks.
Main Methods:
- Electroencephalograms (EEGs) were used to study sleep in 13 patients with panic disorder and 7 controls.
- Patients were monitored for sleep disturbances and panic awakenings.
Main Results:
- Patients with panic disorder showed increased sleep latency, decreased sleep time, and reduced sleep efficiency compared to controls.
- Panic awakenings were preceded by transitions from stage II non-REM sleep toward delta sleep.
- No reduction in rapid eye movement (REM) latency was observed in the patient group.
- The occurrence of sleep panic did not significantly influence overall sleep disturbance metrics.
Conclusions:
- Sleep is significantly disturbed in patients with panic disorder.
- Sleep panic attacks are associated with specific non-REM sleep stages.
- Increased REM latency was noted on nights with sleep panic, suggesting a potential link between REM sleep regulation and sleep panic.