Premium
Post‐stroke sleep disorder treated with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram—a case study
Author(s) -
Vestergaard K.,
Drewes A. Mohr,
Andersen G.,
Taagholt S. Jørgensen
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-1331.1996.tb00212.x
Subject(s) - citalopram , medicine , serotonergic , serotonin reuptake inhibitor , stroke (engine) , reuptake inhibitor , sleep disorder , tic disorder , anesthesia , paroxetine , insomnia , psychiatry , serotonin , tourette syndrome , mechanical engineering , receptor , engineering
Even though stroke patients not uncommonly suffer from sleep disturbance, post‐stroke sleep disorder is one of the least studied sequela of stroke. We present a case study providing polysomnographic evidence for the successful alleviation of persistent insomnia in a non‐depressed stroke patient by treatment with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor citalopram. During open treatment with citalopram the patient's sleep efficiency index improved considerably, and REM latency gradually increased. Possible causes of post‐stroke insomnia are discussed, and the suggestion is made that post‐stroke sleep disorder might possibly be attributable to stroke‐induced disruption of pathways involved in the neurophysiology of sleep, e.g. serotonergic neurotransmission.