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Napping predicts responsiveness to hypnotics in patients with primary circadian rhythm disorder
Author(s) -
NAKAJIMA TORU,
KAJIMURA NAOFUMI,
KATO MASAAKI,
WATANABE TSUYOSHI,
HORI TORU,
TAKAHASHI KIYOHISA
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2002.00987.x
Subject(s) - circadian rhythm , psychology , rhythm , medicine , sleep (system call) , chronobiology , endocrinology , computer science , operating system
It is hypothesized that one of the primary abnormalities of primary circadian rhythm disorder (PCRD) is the strong link between any episode of sleep and circadian rhythm. To test this hypothesis, the relationship between napping and responsiveness to hypnotics was examined in 12 patients with PCRD. A significant association was found ( P = 0.04, χ 2 test). Patients with PCRD who napped were all responders to hypnotics. The results suggest a strong link between episodes of sleep and circadian rhythm in some patients with PCRD, and might also suggest the heterogeneity of PCRD. Napping in patients with PCRD may be a predictor for responsiveness to hypnotics. In addition, napping and responsiveness to hypnotics might have a clinical value to differentiate PCRD from secondary CRD.