The effects of dexamethasone administration on EEG sleep in depressed patients

Since DST non-suppression and sleep abnormalities have been shown to co-exist in depressive states, it seems important to examine what effects dexamethasone administration might have on the sleep of depressed patients. Therefore, the effects of 1 mg dexamethasone p.o. administered at 11 p.m. to a group of 12 depressed outpatients was examined. In this series of patients, the hypothesis of no significant changes in sleep continuity, sleep architecture or REM sleep features was confirmed aside from an increase in Stage 2 sleep percent and decrease in Stage 1 REM percent in these patients (both variables stayed in the normal range). It can be concluded that acute administration of dexamethasone does not influence the sleep of depressed patients in a major way.