REM sleep EEG spectral analysis in patients with first-episode schizophrenia

Julie Poulin, Emmanuel Stip, Roger Godbout

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The pathophysiology of schizophrenia includes abnormalities in subcortical-cortical transfer of information that can be studied using REM sleep EEG spectral analysis, a measure that reflects spontaneous and endogenous thalamocortical activity. We recorded 10 patients with first-episode schizophrenia and 30 healthy controls for two consecutive nights in a sleep laboratory, using a 10-electrode EEG montage. Sixty seconds of REM sleep EEG without artifact were analyzed using FFT spectral analysis. Absolute and relative spectral amplitudes of five frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta1 and beta2) were extracted and compared between the two groups. Frequency bands with significant differences were correlated with BPRS positive and negative symptoms scores. Patients with schizophrenia showed lower relative alpha and higher relative beta2 spectral amplitudes compared to healthy controls over the averaged total scalp. Analysis using cortical regions showed lower relative alpha over frontal, central and temporal regions and higher relative beta2 over the occipital region. Absolute spectral amplitude was not different between groups for any given EEG band. However, absolute alpha activity correlated negatively with BPRS positive symptoms scores and correlated positively with negative symptoms scores. Since similar results have been reported following EEG spectral analysis during the waking state, we conclude that abnormalities of subcortical-cortical transfer of information in schizophrenia could be generated by mechanisms common to REM sleep and waking.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1086-1093
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Psychiatric Research
Volume42
Issue number13
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Clinical correlates
  • Cortex
  • First-episode psychosis
  • Thalamus
  • qEEG

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Biological Psychiatry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'REM sleep EEG spectral analysis in patients with first-episode schizophrenia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this