REM sleep as a potential indicator of hyperarousal in psychophysiological and paradoxical insomnia sufferers.

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Authors:

Pérusse, Alexandra D; Pedneault-Drolet, Maude; Rancourt, Christine; Turcotte, Isabelle; St-Jean, Geneviève; Celyne H Bastien

Source:

Int J Psychophysiol, Volume 95, Issue 3, p.372-8 (2015)

Keywords:

Adult, Analysis of Variance, Arousal, Cross-Sectional Studies, Electroencephalography, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Polysomnography, Psychophysiology, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Sleep, REM, Time Factors

Abstract:

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The objective was to study REM sleep macrostructure and microstructure as potential indicators of hyperarousal in insomnia by comparing good sleepers (GS) and insomnia sufferers (INS) (subdivided into psychophysiological "PSY-I" and paradoxical "PARA-I").DESIGN: Cross-sectional comparisons of GS, PSY-I and PARA-I.SETTING: Participants slept for 4 consecutive nights in the laboratory where PSG was recorded. Nights 2 and 3 were combined to compare REM sleep between groups.PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-nine PSY-I, 27 PARA-I and 47 GS completed the study, comprising home questionnaires, clinical interviews and night PSG recordings. All participants were aged between 25 and 55 and met inclusion criteria for either PSY-I, PARA-I or GS.INTERVENTIONS N/A MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Results showed no between group differences on REM sleep macrostructure. As for REM sleep microstructure, PSY-I had an increased number of wake intrusions compared to PARA-I (p=.03). Subjective SE, TST and TWT were significantly correlated with the duration of REM sleep (REMD; p≤.002) and with the proportion of REM sleep for PARA-I (p≤.06).CONCLUSIONS: REM sleep macrostructure does not seem to be an adequate indicator of hyperarousal in insomnia. However, the number of wake intrusions in REM could be used to differentiate PSY-I from PARA-I and could reflect the heightened arousal of the former group. Relationships between REM sleep duration and proportion could be linked to dream imagery activity, especially in PARA-I. Further investigations are needed to identify variables that could reflect hyperarousal and differentiate insomnia types.