Chronotype and circadian rhythm in bipolar disorder: A systematic review.

Despite a complex relationship between mood, sleep and rhythm, the impact of circadian disruptions on bipolar disorder (BD) has not been clarified. The purpose of this systematic review was to define current evidence regarding chronotype and circadian rhythm patterns in BD patients. 42 studies were included, involving 3432 BD patients. Disruption of the biological rhythm was identified, even in drug-naïve BD patients and independently of mood status. Daily profiles of melatonin levels and cortisol indicated a delayed phase. Depression was more frequently associated with circadian alterations than euthymia. Few studies evaluated mania, demonstrating irregular rhythms. Evening type was more common in BD adults. Studies about the influence of chronotype on depressive symptoms showed conflicting results. Only one investigation observed the influences of chronotype in mania, revealing no significant association. Effects of psychoeducation and lithium on rhythm in BD patients were poorly studied, demonstrating no improvement of rhythm parameters. Studies about genetics are incipient. In conclusion, disruption in circadian rhythm and eveningness are common in BD. Prospective research evaluating the impact of circadian disruption on mood symptoms, metabolism, seasonality, the influence of age and the effects of mood stabilizers are needed.

Actigraphic assessment of sleep in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

PURPOSE: Previously, sleep in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been objectively investigated only by lab-based polysomnography. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate sleep quality in COPD patients in their home environment using actigraphy. We also investigated the factors associated with sleep impairment and the relationship between objective and subjective sleep quality and daytime somnolence in these patients. METHODS: Twenty-six patients with moderate to very severe COPD and 15 controls were studied by actigraphy for at least 5 days. Subjective sleep quality was evaluated by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and daytime sleepiness by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Dyspnea was quantified by the modified Medical Research Council (MMRC) scale. RESULTS: COPD patients showed increased sleep latency (p = 0.003), mean activity (p = 0.003), and wake after sleep onset (p = 0.003) and reduced total sleep time (TST; p = 0.024) and sleep efficiency (p = 0.001), as compared to controls. In patients, severity of dyspnea was correlated with sleep activity (r = 0.41; p = 0.04) and TST (r = -0.46; p = 0.02) and multiple regression analysis showed that MMRC score was the best predictor of TST (p = 0.02) and sleep efficiency (p = 0.03). Actigraphy measures during daytime were not significantly different between patients and controls. Subjective sleep quality was poorer in patients than controls (p = 0.043). ESS scores were not significantly different between the two groups. Actigraphy measures were not correlated with subjective sleep quality or daytime somnolence in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Nocturnal sleep is markedly impaired in stable COPD patients studied by actigraphy in their home environment and this impairment is related to severity of dyspnea.

Sleep disturbances and brain MRI morphometry in Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy - a comparative study.

Despite common reports in Parkinson's disease (PD), in other parkinsonian syndromes, sleep disturbances have been less frequently described. This study evaluated and compared sleep disturbances in patients with PD, multiple system atrophy (MSA) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and analyzed associations with brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) morphometry. This was a cross-sectional study of 16 PD cases, 13 MSA, 14 PSP and 12 control. Sleep disturbances were evaluated by Epworth Sleepiness Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Restless Legs Scale and Berlin questionnaire. Pons area, midbrain area, medial cerebellar peduncle (MCP) width, and superior cerebellar peduncle width were measured using MRI. Poor quality sleep, risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) were detected in all groups. Patients with MSA showed higher risk of OSA and less frequent RLS. In MSA, a correlation between PSQI scores and Hoehn and Yahr stage was observed (p<0.05). In PSP, RLS was frequent (57%) and related with reduced sleep duration and efficiency. In PD, excessive daytime sleepiness was related to atrophy of the MCP (p=0.01). RLS was more frequent in PD and PSP, and in PSP, was associated with reduced sleep efficiency and sleep duration. Brain morphometry abnormalities were found in connection with excessive daytime sleepiness and risk of OSA in PD and PSP suggesting widespread degeneration of brainstem sleep structures on the basis of sleep abnormalities in these patients.

Restless legs syndrome and quality of sleep in type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the presence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and the quality of sleep in a population of type 2 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study population was composed of 100 consecutive patients regularly attending a diabetes clinic at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Ceará. The subjects' quality of sleep was assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) was measured by the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. The RLS was diagnosed using the four minimum criteria defined by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. Other relevant clinical and laboratory parameters were obtained by interview and chart review. RESULTS: RLS was found in 27% of patients. Poor sleep quality was present in 45% of cases and was associated with age (P = 0.04), peripheral neuropathy (P = 0.001), and RLS (P = 0.000). EDS was found in 26% of patients. Logistic regression analysis revealed an association between RLS and peripheral neuropathy (odds ratio 12.85 [95% CI 2.83-58.40], P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: RLS is common in type 2 diabetic patients and can be a major cause of sleep disruption in these patients.

Melatonin improves sleep in asthma: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study.

Disturbed sleep is common in asthma. Melatonin has sleep-inducing activity and reportedly affects smooth muscle tone and inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of melatonin on sleep in patients with mild and moderate asthma. This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Twenty-two consecutive women with asthma were randomized to receive melatonin 3 mg (n = 12) or placebo (n = 10) for 4 weeks. Sleep quality and daytime somnolence were assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, respectively. Pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry. Use of relief medication, asthma symptoms, and morning and evening peak expiratory flow rate were recorded daily. Melatonin treatment significantly improved subjective sleep quality, as compared with placebo (p = 0.04). No significant difference in asthma symptoms, use of relief medication and daily peak expiratory flow rate was found between groups. We conclude that melatonin can improve sleep in patients with asthma. Further studies looking into long-term effects of melatonin on airway inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness are needed before melatonin can be recommended in patients with asthma.

Snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness in Parkinson's disease.

Recent recognition of daytime sleepiness in Parkinson's disease (PD) has prompted a search for its causes. Sleepy patients may be more susceptible to sleep attacks after the use of dopamine agonists and the recognition of sleep disturbances in PD may influence important therapeutic decisions. To identify clinical factors influencing excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) and sleep complaints in PD, we studied 86 consecutive patients with clinical diagnosis of PD using a sleep questionnaire, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale and the Montgomery and Asberg Depression Rating Scale. Patients with cognitive dysfunction were not included in the study. We found that 49 patients (53.3%) had insomnia, 45 (49.9%) restless legs syndrome (RLS), 51 (55.4%) vivid dreams, 61 (71.8%) snoring and 29 (31.5%) had EDS. RLS was more frequent in patients with longer duration of illness. Snoring was the most important risk factor associated with EDS (OR=3.64, 95% CI=1.11-11.9, P=0.03) and a marginal association between motor dysfunction and EDS was observed (OR=1.06, 95% CI=1.00-1.12, P=0.05).