Effect of ambulatory blood pressure measurement on sleep in patients with a major depressive episode.
BACKGROUND: To assess the effects of ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) upon sleep in mentally depressed patients with near absence of deep (stage 3 and 4) sleep. METHODS: Twelve depressed patients aged 50.5+/-13.5 (21-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale: 23.8+/-5.1) were studied on three consecutive nights in the sleep laboratory. In a random order, blood pressure was measured with a portable device over 24 h on either day 2 or 3. Polysomnographic data were analysed according to the criteria of Rechtschaffen and Kales. RESULTS: Compared to the control night, there was a significant increase of awakenings during the ABPM night. However, total sleeping time as well as sleep efficiency remained unchanged. Percentage of nocturnal decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure was unrelated to the number of arousals. CONCLUSION: In depressed patients with severe disturbances of sleep architecture, ABPM did not lead to a prolongation of time awake or decrease in sleep efficiency.