[Sleep deprivation and continuous sleep treatment for depression].

We explained about sleep deprivation (SD) and continuous sleep treatment (CST) such as nonpharmacological approaches for depression. Total sleep deprivation (TSD) showed dramatic, but transient, improvement in severe depression following one or more nights of SD. We reported the effects of TSD on 8 depressives. Consequently, after the TSD, the patients were divided into the groups of 3 responders and 5 non-responders in the score of on the basis of a 50% reduction in the score of Hamilton Rating Scale. The minimum rectal temperature (RT) of the non-responders was significant higher on the TSD night compared to the baseline night, but no significant change was observed in the responders. In addition, the minimum nocturnal RT of the responders before TSD tended to be higher. Nowadays, it is not so popular to use CST for depression because the technique is difficult.