[Subjective diurnal fatigue and sleep deprivation response]

29 major depressive patients, the majority suffering from a melancholic subtype and typical diurnal variation of mood, rated subjective tiredness on a 100 mm analogous scale before and after total sleep deprivation (TSD). In study A every four hours during the day before and after TSD and every 2 hours during the TSD-night ratings were performed, in study B at 8.00 a.m. before and after TSD. The mean response rate was 55.2% in the 2 studies. In study A subsequent responders were less tired during the afternoon before TSD. Responding patients were more alert the morning after sleep deprivation than non-responders. A higher inter-individually variability of tiredness ratings in responders before and after sleep deprivation was found in study B, assuming an arousing property and a greater variability in subjective arousal at least during the morning hours. In summary the determination of the subjective arousal level may help to predict response.