Spontaneous K-complexes in chronic psychophysiological insomnia.

Publication Type:

Journal Article

Source:

J Psychosom Res, Volume 67, Issue 2, p.117-25 (2009)

Keywords:

Adult, Chronic Disease, Electroencephalography, Female, Humans, Male, Polysomnography, Severity of Illness Index, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Sleep Stages, Surveys and Questionnaires

Abstract:

<p><b>OBJECTIVE: </b>Spontaneous K-complexes are electroencephalographic features unique to non-rapid eye movement sleep. It has been suggested that this phasic event is a sleep-protective mechanism. Because insomnia sufferers report poor sleep quantity and quality, the objective of this study was to document the occurrence of spontaneous K-complexes in Stage 2 sleep of individuals with chronic insomnia. Specifically, the number and density of spontaneous K-complexes were studied in psychophysiological insomnia sufferers.</p><p><b>SETTING: </b>This study took place in a sleep and event-related potentials laboratory.</p><p><b>DESIGN: </b>Spontaneous K-complexes were scored during Stage 2 sleep on the second and third nights of a four-consecutive-nights protocol of polysomnographic recordings.</p><p><b>PARTICIPANTS: </b>The sample included 14 participants suffering from psychophysiological insomnia (INS group; mean age=44.1 years) and 14 good sleepers (mean age=38.1 years). Participants underwent sleep and psychological evaluations. INS group participants met the diagnostic criteria for primary psychophysiological insomnia (mean duration of insomnia=9.6 years).</p><p><b>INTERVENTION: </b>Not applicable.</p><p><b>RESULTS: </b>The total number of spontaneous K-complexes and the density according to the total time spent in Stage 2 sleep (spontaneous K-complexes per minute) were compiled. Repeated-measures analyses of variance showed no significant difference in the number and density of spontaneous K-complexes between the INS group (313.98 and 2.66) and the GS group (361.10 and 2.88), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION: </b>These results suggest no deficiency in the sleep-protective mechanism of psychophysiological insomnia sufferers in comparison with good sleepers, as measured by the spontaneous K-complexes' number and density.</p>

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