Sleep profile in opioid dependence: a polysomnographic case-control study.

PURPOSE: Many opioid receptors are located in the same nuclei that are active in sleep regulation. It has been suggested that opioid peptides are involved in the induction of the sleep state. Prolonged opioid use has been hypothesized to cause disturbed sleep. It also causes excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue. This study was conducted to compare the polysomnographic sleep profile of patients with opioid dependence with normal matched controls and to see the correlation between various clinical profiles of patients with opioid dependence with their polysomnographic sleep profile. METHODS: Fifteen opioid-dependent male patients were selected, and after the detoxification procedure, the patients were assessed using Objective Opioid Withdrawal Scale, Obsessive Compulsive Drug Use Scale, Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and Global Assessment of Functioning. Fifteen healthy volunteers matched for age, education, and handedness were taken as controls and were assessed using Epworth sleepiness scale and General Health Questionnaire-12. All night polysomnography recording was done on patient and control group, and staging of sleep was done. RESULTS: Patients had significantly decreased total sleep time, sleep efficiency and stage N1 sleep, prolonged sleep latency, and increased limb movement index. No significant correlation was found between sleep profile and various clinical variables. CONCLUSIONS: Use of opioids cause sleep disturbance, and these changes occurring in sleep can persist even after substance use has been stopped. Opioids seem to affect non-rapid eye movement stages of sleep.

Spontaneous dense array gamma activity in children and adolescents with volatile solvent dependence.

OBJECTIVES: Children and adolescents with volatile solvent/inhalant dependence have neurocognitive deficits. The study aimed to explore resting state gamma activity, which is a marker of cognitive function, in children and adolescents with inhalant dependence. The study also investigated differences in gamma activity across groups differing in inhaled amounts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) data were collected from nine patients with inhalant dependence. 30-50 Hz spectral power was calculated using Welch's averaged periodogram method. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, bi-variate correlation, and nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: While significant positive correlation was found between duration of dependence and gamma spectral power in left frontal region, no significant differences were found on comparison of the groups on gamma spectral power. CONCLUSION: A complex neurobiological interaction is involved in the synaptic modulation brought about by inhalant use and this could be understood by studying changes in EEG parameters especially gamma activity.