Sleep architecture and EEG power spectra in recently detoxified alcohol dependent patients

Persistent sleep abnormalities during abstinence are a harbinger for relapse in patients with chronic alcohol dependence. The present study aimed to compare polysomnography (PSG) data between 'recently detoxified' patients with chronic alcohol dependence and healthy controls.

Both conventional sleep architectural and power spectral analyses were conducted. Twenty subjects in each of the groups were enrolled. A 2 nights' sleep (first-habituation and second-experimental) PSG data was collected. Computer assisted scoring supplemented by manual method using the Rechtschaffen and Kales criteria were used for sleep staging. Twenty eight channels were used for the EEG recording. Spectral power across early NREM (Non-rapid-eye-movement), Slow Wave Sleep and REM was computed using the Welch's averaged periodogram method.

Results on conventional sleep staging showed that patients had significantly lesser total sleep time, sleep efficiency and stage shifts and longer sleep onset latency; while duration of each NREM stages were significantly lower, and latency of stage 2 NREM was significantly longer in patients. After controlling for multiple comparisons, spectral power analysis revealed significant differences only during REM sleep and specifically in high frequency (beta and gamma) bands.

Stating the mutually complementary role of conventional and spectral analyses of polysomnography EEG data, we conclude that sleep abnormalities are fairly evident in recently detoxified alcohol dependent patients.