[Repeating antidepressive sleep deprivation therapy (partial sleep deprivation)].

UNLABELLED

Repeated partial sleep deprivation (in the second half of the night) is investigated in respect of therapeutic effectivity as part of antidepressive treatment. 31 inpatients suffering from endogenous depression were subjected to walking therapy three times at intervals of one week.

RESULTS

The antidepressive efficacy of sleep deprivation is individually (both interindividually and intraindividually) very different. Regular response is rare, but so is repeated non-response. Even if one or several waking therapies remain ineffective, further attempts can eventually result in marked antidepressive effects. Hence a repetition of this antidepressive measure is indicated, the more so since it is easy to carry out and does not produce side effects.