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Rapid antidepressant effects of sleep deprivation therapy

Rapid antidepressant effects of sleep deprivation therapy correlates with serum BDNF changes in major depression.

Abstract

Recent reports have suggested that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels are reduced in individuals suffering major depressive disorder and these levels normalize following antidepressant treatment. Various antidepressants and electroconvulsive therapy are shown to have a positive effect on brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels in depressive patients. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of total sleep deprivation therapy on BDNF levels in major depressive patients. Patients were assigned to two treatment groups which consisted of 22 patients in the sertraline group and 19 patients in the total sleep deprivation plus sertraline group. Patients in the sleep deprivation group were treated with three total sleep deprivations in the first week of their treatment and received sertraline. Patients in sertraline group received only sertraline. BDNF levels were measured in the two treatment groups at baseline, 7th, 14th, and 42nd days. Patients were also evaluated using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D). A control group, consisting of 33 healthy volunteers had total sleep deprivation, BDNF levels and depression measured at baseline and after the total sleep deprivation. Results showed that serum BDNF levels were significantly lower at baseline in both treatment groups compared to controls. Decreased levels of BDNF were also negatively correlated with HAM-D scores. First single sleep deprivation and a series of three sleep deprivations accelerated the treatment response that significantly decreased HAM-D scores and increased BDNF levels. Total sleep deprivation and sertraline therapy is introduced to correlate with the rapid treatment response and BDNF changes in this study.

 

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4 comments
J says May 6, 2012

The Opus Dei (a Spanish men’s fraternity) used to organize “Retiros Espirituales para Hombres” that included all night “vigilias” and “penitencias”. Now we start to understand the scientific basis of the practice. Could it be that also exorcism cures?

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maggie.danhakl@healthline.com says September 22, 2014

Hi,

I hope all is well with you. Healthline just published an infographic detailing the effects of sleep deprivation on the body. This is an interactive chart allowing the reader to pick the side effect they want to learn more about.

You can see the overview of the report here: http://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-body

Our users have found our guide very useful and I thought it would be a great resource for your page: http://digressionality.blogspot.com/2012/05/rapid-antidepressant-effects-of-sleep.html

I would appreciate it if you could review our request and consider adding this visual representation of sleep deprivation to your site or sharing it on your social media feeds.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

All the best,
Maggie Danhakl • Assistant Marketing Manager

Healthline • The Power of Intelligent Health
660 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
http://www.healthline.com | @Healthline | @HealthlineCorp

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Can long-term antidepressant use worsen depression? - Rogue Health and Fitness says November 4, 2014

[…] for depression can be counted sleep deprivation therapy (sometimes known as wake therapy, see also here), light therapy, and exercise. NB: I’m not saying that antidepressants are never necessary or […]

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An intermittent sleep fast treats depression - Rogue Health and Fitness says December 28, 2014

[…] been known for some time that missing a night’s sleep can provide instant relief from depression. This works, believe it or not, in the majority, perhaps 75%, of those suffering from major […]

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