PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C M Dorsey

Publications and source records attributed to C M Dorsey.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Core body temperature and sleep of older female insomniacs before and after passive body heating.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between core body temperature and sleep in older female insomniacs and changes in that relationship as a result of passive body heating (PBH). An increase in body temperature early in the evening by way of PBH in older female insomniacs increased SWS in the early part of the sleep period and improved sleep continuity. Fourteen older female insomniacs (60-73 years old) participated in at least two consecutive nights of PBH involving hot (40-40.5 degrees C) baths 1.5-2 hours before bedtime. Hot baths resulted in a significant delay in the phase of the core body temperature rhythm compared to baseline nights. This delay in temperature phase paralleled the improvements in sleep quality.

Adult↗

Subjective and psychophysiologic insomnia: an examination of sleep tendency and personality.

The goal of this study was to compare insomniacs with and without objective verification, on the basis of sleep parameters, personality, and performance. An insomniac complaint group was subclassified as objective insomniac (OI) or subjective insomniac (SI) and compared to a non-complaint group. Groups did not differ on night sleep variables or daytime sleep latency measures; rather, a consistent sleep tendency was revealed for all three groups. The poorer the previous night sleep, the longer the daytime sleep latencies. Groups differed on subjective measures of conscious state during the day. SIs inaccurately estimated sleep/wake state in comparison to objective measures on the MSLT, whereas OIs were accurate in their estimations. Personality scores showed trends that suggested greater neuroticism for SIs and introversion for OIs. Results demonstrated subjective tendencies and related personality types that may help in the understanding of the complaint of insomnia with and without objective findings.

Adolescent↗

Fluoxetine-induced sleep disturbance in depressed patients.

Abnormal polysomnographic (PSG) features, most notably increased electromyographic (EMG) tone and eye movements during non-REM sleep have been observed during sleep in fluoxetine-treated depressed patients. However, the relationship between these PSG features and sleep disruption is unclear. Nine depressed patients treated with 10 to 80 mg of fluoxetine and six unmedicated, depressed patients were studied polysomnographically on two consecutive nights during which sleep parameters, transient arousals, and eye movements were measured. The fluoxetine group experienced a lower-average sleep efficiency index (SEI) and significantly more eye movements and arousals during non-REM sleep than the control group. Eye movement and arousal counts were significantly correlated. In addition, clinically significant periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) was observed in 44% of the fluoxetine-treated group versus none of the control group. We conclude that a higher incidence of PLMD and frequent transient arousals associated with eye movements may be responsible in part for the complaint of insomnia made by patients treated with fluoxetine.

Adult↗

Are thyroid function tests necessary in patients with suspected sleep apnea?

Thyroid evaluation is frequently performed in patients with sleep apnea because of a suspected causal relationship between hypothyroidism and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The aim of this study was to determine the actual prevalence of hypothyroidism in patients referred for polysomnography and evaluate whether its rate was higher in patients with OSA than those without OSA. Ultrasensitive thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) was performed on 255 of 279 consecutive patients referred for polysomnography from the neurology service of a large HMO. Hypothyroidism was detected in 1.6% (4/243) of all patients, 1.5% (3/194) of patients referred to evaluate OSA, and 2.0% of patients referred to evaluate the presence of periodic leg movement disorder (PLMD)/narcolepsy/parasomnia. There was no significant difference in rates of hypothyroidism in patients with documented OSA (2.9%, 3/103) compared to those without OSA (0.7%, 1/135). Two of the four patients with elevated TSHs had previously documented hypothyroidism and were on thyroxine replacement. Rates of hyperthyroidism were as high or higher than those of hypothyroidism in all groups. We conclude that thyroid screening does not appear to be appropriate for patients with suspected, or confirmed, OSA in the absence of signs or symptoms consistent with hypothyroidism or unless they are in a high risk group (women over the age of 60).

Adult↗

An electromyographic marker for neuroleptic-induced akathisia: preliminary measures of sensitivity and specificity.

Previous polysomnographic (PSG) investigations have reported a rhythmic electromyographic (EMG) pattern (0.5-3.0 cps) of leg movement activity in a subset of patients with neuroleptic-induced akathisia (NIA). It has been suggested that this EMG pattern may represent a pathophysiological correlate of NIA and thus have clinical utility as an objective marker for this condition. We present preliminary measures of sensitivity and specificity for this EMG pattern as a diagnostic marker for NIA for 26 neuroleptic-treated patients. The EMG marker yielded a diagnostic sensitivity of 68.9% and a specificity of 70.0%, falling just short of statistical significance (Fisher's exact test p = 0.06). Quantitative analysis of the EMG pattern revealed a significant positive correlation between the percentage of time the NIA marker occurred during wakefulness and corresponding chlorpromazine equivalent levels. Clinical demographic findings for true-positive, false-positive, true-negative, and false-negative groups are discussed. Overall findings suggest that this particular pattern of EMG marker activity observed in neuroleptic-treated patients during PSG and EMG studies is valuable in facilitating the diagnosis and monitoring treatment.

Adolescent↗

Effects of passive body heating on the sleep of older female insomniacs.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate passive body heating (PBH) as a treatment for insomnia in older adults. Polysomnographic recordings of older adults routinely show an increase in sleep fragmentation and a substantial decrease in slow-wave sleep (SWS) consistent with complaints of "lighter" more disturbed sleep. An increase in body temperature in young adults early in the evening by way of PBH has been shown to produce an increase in SWS in the early part of the sleep period. In a crossover design, nine female insomniacs (aged 60-72 yr) participated in two consecutive nights of PBH, involving hot (40-40.5 degrees C) and luke-warm (37.5-38.5 degrees C) baths 1.5 hours before bedtime. Significant improvement in sleep continuity and a trend toward an increase in SWS occurred after hot baths. Results of subjective measures showed that subjects experienced significantly "deeper" and more restful sleep after hot baths. In addition, hot baths resulted in a significant delay of temperature nadir in comparison to baseline nights.

Adult↗