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Biomedical subjects

G McEnany

Publications and source records attributed to G McEnany.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2000

REM sleep and mood state in childbearing women: sleepy or weepy?

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To test the hypotheses that: 1) an increase in endogenous progesterone levels during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle will alter REM sleep and mood state, and 2) a decrease in endogenous progesterone levels during postpartum will also alter REM sleep and mood state. DESIGN: A longitudinal descriptive study utilizing ambulatory polysomnography for two consecutive nights at seven time points. SETTING: Subject's homes. PARTICIPANTS: The first hypothesis was tested with 34 women studied during both the follicular and luteal phases of their menstrual cycle. The second hypothesis was tested with 31 women who completed the sleep studies during pregnancy and at one month postpartum. INTERVENTIONS: N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Women who ovulated (high levels of serum progesterone in the luteal phase) had shorter REM latency, more REM sleep, and more positive mood state compared to those who did not ovulate (low luteal progesterone). Compared to the third trimester (high progesterone), REM latency was significantly shorter at one month postpartum (low progesterone). Mood state was most positive at the second trimester and most negative at one month postpartum. CONCLUSIONS: REM sleep and mood state were related to low progesterone levels during the menstrual cycle, but postpartum REM sleep and mood state were related to increased wake time rather than changes in progesterone levels.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Parity and sleep patterns during and after pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To describe changes in women's sleep patterns from prepregnancy to postpartum. METHODS: Polysomnography was done in women's homes for 2 consecutive nights. Forty-five women were studied during the follicular and luteal phases of their menstrual cycles, and 33 conceived and were studied during each trimester of pregnancy. Twenty-nine were studied at 1 and 3 months postpartum. RESULTS: Compared with prepregnant sleep characteristics, significant changes in sleep patterns were evident by 11-12 weeks' gestation, with a significant increase in total sleep time but less deep sleep and more awakening during sleep. By the third month postpartum, there was improvement in sleep characteristics; however, sleep efficiency remained significantly lower than baseline prepregnancy values. CONCLUSION: Sleep disturbance was greatest during the first postpartum month, particularly for first-time mothers.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Owls, larks and the significance of morningness/eveningness rhythm propensity in psychiatric-mental health nursing.

In the last decade there has been an upsurge in the research focusing on the interplay between the human circadian timing system and behavioral patterns in health and illness. Of particular interest in this area of inquiry is the overlay of what has been termed chronotype. What this refers to is the propensity of biological rhythms to express themselves in certain patterns of behavior. Commonly, these patterns have received names such as owl (evening chronotype) or lark (morning chronotype). Many people are neither a strong morning nor evening chronotype. If illness represents a change in the way a person's body functions within a given environment, then it is reasonable to believe that an "owl's" symptom presentation may vary significantly from the patterns of a "lark" who becomes ill. Recognizing that psychiatric nurses at both the generalist and the advanced practice levels have a strong interest in patterns of behavior, it stands to reason that using a lens that incorporates notions of the body's clock becomes essential. The interplay between the body's timing system and the thousands of other psychobiological rhythmic functions occurring everyday and within every human being is referred to as chronobiology. This article provides a primer for psychiatric nurses on issues of chronobiology related to morningness and eveningness rhythm propensity.

Affect↗
PubMed2000

Enhancing pharmacologic effects in the treatment of depression in women.

The prevalence of depressive disorders in women is twice that in men. This gender difference emerges around the time of puberty and persists through the childbearing years. Reproductive events and psychosocial factors are important influences on depression in women. Women often present with atypical depressive symptoms and comorbid disorders that can complicate both diagnosis and treatment. Sex differences in pharmacokinetics have been noted, as well as differences in antidepressant treatment response. While sleep disturbances, sexual dysfunction, and weight gain may be part of the constellation of depressive symptoms, they are also important considerations in selecting a treatment option for depressed women.

Antidepressive Agents↗
PubMed1999

Gender differences in sleep patterns for early adolescents.

PURPOSE: To describe gender differences in self-reported sleep disturbances and daytime sleepiness in an urban sample of early adolescents (11-14 years of age). METHODS: One hundred and forty-four racially diverse sixth- to eighth-grade students responded to an investigator-developed sleep questionnaire. Variables included school night and weekend sleep patterns as well as factors that influence sleep and daytime sleepiness, such as sleep/wake routine and alcohol and caffeine consumption. RESULTS: Boys consumed significantly more caffeinated beverages than girls, but this did not correlate with self-reports of waking after sleep onset. Caffeine intake was significantly related to self-reported parasomnias. Significant gender differences were found for self-reports of daytime sleepiness. There were also large variations between weekday and weekend sleep schedules. Weekday wakeup time for boys was significantly later compared to girls. Those who reported consumption of alcohol during the past week were likely to fall asleep in the classroom before lunch. Girls, who awakened earlier than boys on school days, were more likely to report falling asleep on the way home from school. CONCLUSIONS: These descriptive data support the need for further investigation into the relationship between caffeine intake and parasomnias, as well as into the observed gender differences.

Adolescent↗