Posted by beardedLADY on January 4, 2003, at 6:15:19
In reply to Re: About Dreaming--from my therapist, posted by Not Bob on January 3, 2003, at 23:01:13
Now I'm really confused. I just did a google search for sleep stages, and I found this, which said depressed patients have a shortened REM, which contradicts what you've said. It also said that meds like Prozac help to lengthen REM, thereby improving sleep.
http://www.sleepdisorderchannel.net/stages/
Factors that Affect Sleep Stage and the Sleep Cycle
The sleep cycle is variable, influenced by several agents. Sleep cycles subsequent to the first one in a night’s sleep typically feature less slow-wave sleep, as Stages 3 and 4 shorten. Slow-wave, deep sleep is longest early in a night’s sleep. Generally, sleep disorders affect the quality, duration, and onset of sleep. Sleep deprivation, frequently changing sleep schedule, stress, and environment all affect the progression of the sleep cycle. Rapid eye movement latency (the time it takes a person to achieve REM sleep) may be affected by a sleep disorder like narcolepsy. Psychological conditions like depression shorten the duration of rapid eye movement. Also, treatment for psychiatric conditions often positively affects sleep, typically inducing some desired change in sleep habit. For example, antidepressants like Prozac® usually quicken sleep onset and lengthen REM stages. People who take antidepressants often benefit from the effects they have on the quality and duration of the sleep cycle.
poster:beardedLADY
thread:1982
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20021230/msgs/2099.html