The relationship of sleep and anxiety in anxious subjects

The present study provided polysomnographic corroboration of the frequently reported relationship between anxiety and subjective sleep disturbance. When compared to normals, anxious individuals were found to have significantly less sleep period time, total sleep time, percent stage REM and percent stage 4; shorter latency to stage REM; and greater percent stage 1. Partial correlations (holding depression constant) showed significant positive relationships between anxiety rating and number of awakenings, latency to stage 1, and percent stage 2. A significant negative relationship was found between anxiety and percent stage 4, and a nonsignificant negative trend was found between anxiety and latency to stage REM. Overall there was a tendency toward less sleep and lighter sleep in subjects with anxiety, thus validating subjective reports. The decreased latency to stage REM and its negative relation to anxiety, raised the possibility that this variable may not be specifically indicative of depression.