EEG sleep in Cushing's disease and Cushing's syndrome: comparison with patients with major depressive disorder

Biol Psychiatry. 1992 Jul 15;32(2):146-55. doi: 10.1016/0006-3223(92)90017-t.

Abstract

Because patients with Cushing' syndrome (CS) and Major depressive disorder (MDD) share features of hypercortisolism and the depressive syndrome, we compared electro-encephalographic (EEG) sleep in patients with pituitary-ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome (Cushing's disease, CD), patients with ACTH-independent Cushing's syndrome (AICS), patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and normal subjects. There were substantial similarities in the abnormal polysomnography profiles of patients with CD, AICS, and MDD. All three patient groups demonstrated poorer sleep continuity, shortened rapid eye movement (REM) latency, and increased first REM period density compared with normal subjects. In addition, AICS patients and MDD patients had elevated REM activity and density. These findings are discussed in terms of models of pathophysiology that relate abnormalities in sleep, mood, and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenoma / physiopathology
  • Adenoma / psychology
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / blood*
  • Adult
  • Bipolar Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Bipolar Disorder / psychology
  • Circadian Rhythm / physiology
  • Cushing Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Cushing Syndrome / psychology
  • Depressive Disorder / physiopathology*
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Dexamethasone
  • Electroencephalography / instrumentation*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrocortisone / blood*
  • Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / physiopathology*
  • Neurocognitive Disorders / psychology
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Pituitary Neoplasms / psychology
  • Pituitary-Adrenal System / physiopathology
  • Polysomnography / instrumentation
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation*
  • Sleep Stages / physiology*
  • Sleep, REM / physiology

Substances

  • Dexamethasone
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • Hydrocortisone