Background: There is evidence suggesting that there is: (1) additive polysomnographic effects of alcoholism and depression; and (2) elevated baseline REM density in primary alcoholics with (PASD) and without lifetime history of secondary depression (NPA).
Methods: 23 PASDs, 59 NPAs, and 23 primary major depression patients (PMD) underwent polysomnography. Any drinking within 3 months after a 1-month inpatient alcohol rehabilitation defined relapse.
Results: PASDs' polysomnography was more like NPAs than PMDs. Polysomnography reflected 3-month sobriety status more than diagnosis.
Limitations: Not all PASD's met full major depression criteria upon admission.
Conclusions: Alcoholism affected polysomnography more than depression. Elevated admission REM density predicted 3-month relapse in PASDs and NPAs.