Cohort study, 1989
Do women with premenstrual depression have different sleep patterns?
Yes. Women with premenstrual depression had more light sleep and less dream sleep overall, but these patterns did not clearly worsen before their period.
What they did
8 women with moderate to severe premenstrual depression and 8 matched control women had brain wave recordings (EEG) while sleeping 2 nights per week throughout one menstrual cycle. Body temperature and movement were also measured.
What they found
Women with depression had significantly more Stage 2 sleep and less REM (dream) sleep than controls. Stage 3 sleep and the number of times women woke during the night varied with menstrual cycle phases. Body temperature was earlier in women with depression but this was not statistically significant. Activity did not change with the cycle.
What it means for you
Women with premenstrual depression may have different baseline sleep quality, but this does not clearly worsen before their period. The sample was extremely small with high differences between women, making it hard to detect real cycle effects.
8
women with depression
8
control women
2
nights per week monitored
About the study
- Original title
- Longitudinal sleep EEG, temperature, and activity measurements across the menstrual cycle in patients with premenstrual depression and in age-matched controls
- Authors
- Parry BL, Mendelson WB, Duncan WC et al.
- Journal
- Psychiatry research
- Year
- 1989
- Study design
- Cohort study
- What was tested
- None. Sleep was monitored during one menstrual cycle.
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(89)90020-6
Topics
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