Studies on the behavioral consequences of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation in animals and humans are critically reviewed. In animals, converging evidence—some reasonably well controlled—indicates that REM sleep deprivation probably heightens central neural excitability and increases motivational behavior, but has unclear or inconclusive effects on learning. In humans, evidence indicates that REM sleep deprivation is not dream deprivation and is not harmful to schizophrenic, depressed, or healthy subjects. Controversy continues about whether or not (some) schizophrenic patients respond abnormally to REM sleep deprivation by having no REM rebound. Controlled but unconfirmed work indicates that endogenous, but not reactive, depressive patients are improved by REM sleep deprivation, a finding consistent with the animal behavioral consequences of the procedure and with the unique REM-depriving properties of efficacious antidepressant drugs.

A Review of REM Sleep Deprivation

Synopsis: Doxepin1 is closely related in structure and general pharmacological properties to other tricyclic antidepressant drugs such as amitriptyline and imipramine. It combines antidepressant activity with a sedative effect and in this respect resembles amitriptyline, with which it shares a similar profile of clinical action.

W R Lang

Papers

Trial of a new psychotropic drug doxepin.