Increased sleep duration and emotional regulation in patients with major depressive episodes

Increased total sleep duration complaint is frequently associated with psychiatric disorders. The daytime impact of sleep disorders is directly linked to the management of emotions and behaviors. Complaints of increased total sleep duration in major depressive disorder (MDE) could be a factor in the disruption of emotional regulation, which belongs to specific, atypical and often more severe clinical pictures.

Our study compared aspects of emotional reactivity using the Multidimensional Assessment of Thymic States (MAThyS) according to self-declared complaint of increased total sleep duration among a cohort conducted within the ChronoS Center, assessing for sleep and psychiatric disorders.

Twenty-one patients were included in the increased sleep duration (ISD) group and 126 patients in the normal or reduced sleep duration (NRSD) group. The frequency and severity of MDE was similar between the two groups, but atypical and seasonal features were more frequent in ISD group. ISD group also reported higher use of cannabis. Regarding emotional reactivity, MAThyS sub-scores in ISD group showing both decreased motivation and interpersonal communication skills compared to NRSD group (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02).

Hypersomnolence complaints with increased sleep duration could lead to decreased motivational and interpersonal communication capacities compared to normal or decreased sleep duration in MDE. Although these results present an interesting perspective for specific psychotherapy and pharmacological, and non-pharmacological treatments as light therapy, focused on wakefulness to enhance interpersonal communication skills and motivation.