The Sleep Pattern of Chronic Alcoholics During the Alcohol Withdrawal Period

Abstract
The sleep pattern of 13 [human] alcoholics was recorded for 5 consecutive nights after the cessation of alcohol intake. In 6 of the 13 patients, delirium tremens occurred after hospitalization. A decrease of total sleep time and slow wave sleep was more pronounced in the patients with delirium tremens than in those without. REM [rapid eye movement] sleep had slightly decreased in both groups. Rebound increase in REM sleep had not been observed in all the patients with delirium tremens. Stage 1-REM with tonic EMG was observed in these 2 groups. Apparently, a deficiency of cerebral 5-HT (serotonin) in alcoholics may lead to a pronounced decrease in slow wave sleep, with REM appearing in stage 1 sleep.

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