Association between nocturnal vagal tone and sleep depth, sleep quality, and fatigue in alcohol dependence.

TitleAssociation between nocturnal vagal tone and sleep depth, sleep quality, and fatigue in alcohol dependence.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsIrwin MR, Valladares EM, Motivala S, Thayer JF, Ehlers CL
JournalPsychosom Med
Volume68
Issue1
Pagination159-66
Date Published2006 Jan-Feb
ISSN1534-7796
KeywordsAdult, Alcoholism, Circadian Rhythm, Electroencephalography, Fatigue, Heart Rate, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Polysomnography, Sleep, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Vagus Nerve
Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study examined whether nocturnal vagal tone as indexed by the high-frequency (HF) power component of heart rate variability is related to measures of sleep depth and daytime perceptions of sleep quality, sleepiness, and fatigue in alcohol dependence.

METHODS: Abstinent alcohol-dependent patients (n = 14) and comparison control subjects (n = 14) underwent all-night polysomnography along with assessment of heart rate variability during an awake period before sleep and during sleep. Sleep-quality perceptions, along with self-reported sleepiness and levels of energy and fatigue, were obtained in the morning.

RESULTS: As compared with control subjects, alcohol-dependent persons showed marked decreases in delta sleep along with impairments of sleep quality and daytime energy. In addition, alcoholics showed a decrease of the HF power component of heart rate variability during the awake period before sleep and during nocturnal sleep as compared with control subjects. HF power during the awake period before sleep correlated with electroencephalographic delta sleep and delta power observed during the subsequent sleep period. HF power during the awake period before sleep also correlated with morning reports of sleep quality, sleepiness, and fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol dependence compromises vagal output measured before sleep onset, which correlates with loss of delta sleep and with morning reports of sleep impairments. Testing of interventions that target sympathovagal balance might identify new strategies for partial amelioration of the sleep disturbances and impairments in daytime functioning observed in persons with alcohol dependence.

DOI10.1097/01.psy.0000195743.60952.00
Alternate JournalPsychosom Med
PubMed ID16449427
Grant ListAA13239 / AA / NIAAA NIH HHS / United States
AG18367 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
DA16541 / DA / NIDA NIH HHS / United States
M01 RR000827 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
M01 RR00827 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
M01-RR00865 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
MH55253 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32-MH19925 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States