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Sleep Patterns in Patients with OCD

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 November 2014

Abstract

Objectives:

(1) To determine whether there are sleep variables specific for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that are identifiable on polysomnographic findings; (2) to determine the possible relationship of OCD to other psychopathological disorders, with special emphasis on major depressive disorder (MDD).

Methods:

Eighteen patients suffering from OCD (five of whom had a comorbid depressive disorder) were assessed by means of a standardized sleep questionnaire, the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) for the assessment of severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and overnight polysomnography. Results were compared with those from a control group of 18 age- and sex-matched controls with no history of psychiatric disorders.

Results:

We found a significant decrease in sleep efficiency index (SEI), REM percent, REM latency, and slow wave sleep latency among OCD patients, compared with controls. The presence of comorbid major depression had no effect on the severity of OCD and had no significant effect on the sleep measures.

Conclusions:

Sleep changes recorded polysomnographically in patients with OCD can be primary in origin and are independent of an associated major depressive disorder.

Type
Feature Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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