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Sleep Deprivation as a Diagnostic Instrument

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

C. J. Williams ,
J. D. I. Yeomans  and
A. K. Coughlan
C. J. Williams*
Affiliation:
St James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF
J. D. I. Yeomans
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, St James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF
A. K. Coughlan
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychology, St James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds LS9 7TF
*
∗Correspondence
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Abstract

A 59-year-old man with chronic treatment-resistant depression developed severe cognitive impairment. The severity of depression and the mode of presentation led to difficulty in diagnosis between a dementing disorder and a depressive illness. The diagnostic conundrum was resolved by the use of sleep deprivation (SD), which demonstrated clear subjective and objective improvements in his condition. These changes were quantified by a range of psychometric tests, which showed that initial deficits in cognitive performance improved temporarily after SD, and these improvements were maintained after effective treatment of the depression with electroconvulsive therapy.

Type
Short Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 164 , Issue 4 , April 1994 , pp. 554 - 556
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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