Sleep duration and timing in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): evidence for circadian phase delay

Jun 24, 2020Sleep medicine

Later sleep times and shorter sleep in obsessive-compulsive disorder linked to delayed body clock

AI simplified

Circadian Biology on OpenScience ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Abstract

In a sample of 24 individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), 42% met the criteria for delayed sleep-wake phase disorder.

Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD) was observed in 10 out of 24 patients with OCD, while none of the matched healthy controls exhibited this condition.
Individuals with OCD had significantly later dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) compared to controls.
No significant correlation was found between DLMO or bedtime and the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms or negative affect.

AI simplified

OBJECTIVES: To investigate potential delays in endogenous melatonin in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

METHODS: First, data are presented for 15 individuals with OCD and matched healthy controls. Next, nine additional participants with OCD who did not have matched controls were added, resulting in a sample of 24 individuals with OCD. All participants were assessed for sleep and circadian rhythm disturbance. Dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) was derived from salivary melatonin and was used in conjunction with sleep diaries, interview measures, and questionnaires. A subset of the OCD group (n = 16) also used actigraphy.

RESULTS: In sum, 42% percent (10/24) of the patients with OCD met the criteria for delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWPD) in comparison to 0% in the control sample. DLMO was significantly later in individuals with OCD compared to controls. DLMO and bedtime were not significantly associated with the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms or negative affect.

CONCLUSIONS: Replication of the findings presented herein, particularly the DLMO results, is warranted. Further, there are now three studies showing that nearly ½ of individuals with OCD meet criteria for a DSWPD. Future studies can explore the mechanisms underlying these connections and the implications of this comorbidity. These findings may increase our understanding of OCD and inform future interventions.

Full Text

Full text is available at the source.

View full text (XML) ↗View full text ↗

Sleep duration and timing in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): evidence for circadian phase delay

Abstract

Full Text

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief

Abstract

Full Text

Related papers

You found one interesting study. We’ll send the next 7.

what lands in your inbox each week:

Recent issues from the circadian biology brief