Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 14, 2025
04:33
Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
Published on: April 26, 2024
801
REM sleep in schizophrenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Dario Morra1, Giuseppe Barbato1
1Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" - Department of Psychology, Viale Ellittico 31, Caserta, Italy.
Sleep Medicine Reviews
|July 24, 2025
Summary
Schizophrenia patients exhibit altered Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, with reduced REM time and shortened REM latency compared to healthy individuals. Antipsychotic treatment may normalize some REM sleep features but not REM density.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Schizophrenia is a complex mental disorder associated with various neurobiological abnormalities.
- Sleep disturbances, particularly in Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, are frequently reported in schizophrenia.
- Understanding REM sleep alterations may provide insights into schizophrenia pathophysiology and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze REM sleep parameters in individuals with schizophrenia.
- To compare REM sleep findings in schizophrenic patients (drug-naive, drug-free, treated) with healthy controls and depressed patients.
- To investigate the effects of antipsychotic treatment on REM sleep.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies from 1955 to 2025.
- Inclusion of 92 case-control studies involving 1845 schizophrenic patients, 1269 healthy controls, and 262 depressed patients.
- Analysis of REM sleep parameters including REM time, percentage, latency, and density using a random-effects model.
Main Results:
- Compared to healthy controls, schizophrenic patients showed reduced REM time and shortened REM latency.
- REM density was increased in drug-free and treated schizophrenic patients.
- No significant difference in REM percentage was observed between schizophrenic patients and healthy controls.
- Reduced REM latency in schizophrenic patients resembled that of depressed patients.
- Antipsychotic treatment appeared to normalize REM time and REM latency but not REM density.
Conclusions:
- Schizophrenia is characterized by specific REM sleep abnormalities, including reduced REM time and latency, and increased REM density.
- REM sleep alterations in schizophrenia share similarities with those in depression, particularly regarding REM latency.
- Antipsychotic medications may partially normalize REM sleep, but REM density suggests distinct underlying mechanisms potentially independent of REM occurrence regulation.
Related Concept Videos
01:15REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
413
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
RBD is significantly associated with...
413
01:24Substance Use Disorders Affecting Sleep
217
Substance use disorders involve a pattern of using drugs more extensively than intended and continuing use despite harmful consequences. This includes legal substances like alcohol and nicotine, as well as illegal drugs. These disorders often involve both physical and psychological dependence, reflecting compulsive use of substances that significantly alter thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, contributing to a major public health issue.
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
Understanding the concepts of physical dependence,...
217
01:24Sleep-Wake Cycles
1.6K
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
1.6K
01:19Management of Insomnia
323
The sleep cycle, an integral part of human health, consists of several stages with distinct characteristics and functions. It begins with a transition from wakefulness to sleep, known as the light sleep phase, followed by the restorative deep sleep phase, essential for physical recovery and growth. The cycle concludes with the Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase, characterized by high brain activity and vivid dreaming. Insomnia, a prevalent sleep disorder, involves difficulty falling asleep, staying...
323
01:17Sedatives and Hypnotics Drugs: Miscellaneous Agents
243
Sedatives and hypnotics encompass a wide range of substances, each with its unique mechanism of action, uses, and potential adverse effects.
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
Melatonin congeners like ramelteon (Rozerem) and tasimelteon (Hetlioz) selectively bind to melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) and thus mimic the actions of melatonin, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles. Tasimelteon is primarily used for non-24-hour sleep-wake disorder, common in blind patients. They are also used to treat conditions like insomnia...
243
01:07Narcolepsy
198
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.
198