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Copyright 2006 www.stopdepressiontoday.com
Sleep Deprivation As A Treatment For Depression
Recent studies have begun to confirm earlier case reports that some individuals with severe depression are transiently helped by remaining awake all night. A few individuals have been treated with this approach alone and are able to maintain a recovery from depression by continued judicious use of sleep deprivation. Others gain temporary relief from sleep deprivation alone but require antidepressant medications to maintain their gains. However, some do not benefit at all.
The mechanism by which sleep deprivation alleviates depression is unclear. Some researchers think that most depressed people have a phase shift in their basic circadian or 24-hour rhythms and that sleep deprivation helps correct this abnormality.
At this time, sleep deprivation is an experimental treatment and should not be used to the exclusion of other treatments that have been proven to be effective. Patients should not treat themselves with this experimental approach, and only clinicians who are experienced in the use and effects of sleep deprivation should offer this treatment.
Recent studies have begun to confirm earlier case reports that some individuals with severe depression are transiently helped by remaining awake all night. A few individuals have been treated with this approach alone and are able to maintain a recovery from depression by continued judicious use of sleep deprivation. Others gain temporary relief from sleep deprivation alone but require antidepressant medications to maintain their gains. However, some do not benefit at all.
The mechanism by which sleep deprivation alleviates depression is unclear. Some researchers think that most depressed people have a phase shift in their basic circadian or 24-hour rhythms and that sleep deprivation helps correct this abnormality.
At this time, sleep deprivation is an experimental treatment and should not be used to the exclusion of other treatments that have been proven to be effective. Patients should not treat themselves with this experimental approach, and only clinicians who are experienced in the use and effects of sleep deprivation should offer this treatment.
