Sleep disturbances in a series of elderly patients: polysomnographic findings

A group of 27 elderly patients with complaints of either chronic insomnia or excessive daytime sleepiness were studied in the Sleep Evaluation Center of Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic during the period January 1977-June 1979. On the basis of anamnestic data from patients and bedroom partners, together with polysomnographic findings, sleep disturbances were classified according to the nosology of the Association of Sleep Disorders Centers. Of the 27 patients, 19 had disorders of initiating or maintaining sleep (DIMS), 7 had disorders of excessive somnolence (DOES), and 1 had parasomnia (episodic nocturnal wandering). Of the 19 DIMS patients, two-thirds had either a primary affective disorder (depression) or a persistent psychophysiologic disturbance. Of the 7 DOES patients, 6 had a primary sleep disorder such as a sleep apnea syndrome or narcolepsy-cataplexy. Additional electroencephalographic sleep data are presented on elderly patients with primary nonpsychotic depression. The latency of rapid eye movements (REM) in the depressed patients was shorter (p less than 0.05) than in patients with a persistent psychophysiologic disturbance. The percentage of REM sleep was significantly elevated (p less than 0.05) in the depressed group, and intermittent wakefulness was decreased (p less than 0.01). The causes of sleep disturbance in the elderly are both heterogeneous and complex. The need for accurate differential diagnosis and a multiaxial approach is stressed.