Restorative or Disruptive? Effects of Antidepressants on Sleep Architecture in Depression

World Health Organization Depression [Internet]. 2023. https://www.who.int/health-topics/depression#tab=tab_2. Cited 24 Oct 2025.

Goodwin RD, Dierker LC, Wu M, Galea S, Hoven CW, Weinberger AH. Trends in U.S. depression prevalence from 2015 to 2020: the widening treatment gap. Am J Prev Med. 2022;63(5):726–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2022.05.014 (PubMed PMID: 36272761).

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Arnone D, Karmegam SR, Östlundh L, Alkhyeli F, Alhammadi L, Alhammadi S, et al. Risk of suicidal behavior in patients with major depression and bipolar disorder—a systematic review and meta-analysis of registry-based studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2024;159:105594. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NEUBIOREV.2024.105594 (PubMed PMID: 38368970).

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Cai H, Xie XM, Zhang Q, Cui X, Lin JX, Sim K, et al. Prevalence of suicidality in major depressive disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies. Front Psychiatry. 2021;16(12):690130. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYT.2021.690130/FULL.

Article  Google Scholar 

Zhang Y, Li Z, Feng Q, Xu Y, Yu R, Chen J, et al. Global, regional and national burdens of major depression disorders and its attributable risk factors in adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 years from 1990 to 2021. BMC Psychiatry. 2025;25(1):1–16. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12888-025-06772-W/FIGURES/4 (PubMed PMID: 40251551).

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Chen X, Li F, Zuo H, Zhu F. Trends in prevalent cases and disability-adjusted life-years of depressive disorders worldwide: findings from the global burden of disease study from 1990 to 2021. Depress Anxiety. 2025;2025(1):5553491. https://doi.org/10.1155/DA/5553491 (PubMed PMID: 40313474).

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Serafini G, Aguglia A, Amerio A, Canepa G, Adavastro G, Conigliaro C, et al. The relationship between bullying victimization and perpetration and non-suicidal self-injury: a systematic review. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2023;54(1):154–75. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10578-021-01231-5 (PubMed PMID: 34435243).

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Pompili M, Baldessarini RJ, Forte A, Erbuto D, Serafini G, Fiorillo A, et al. Do atypical antipsychotics have antisuicidal effects? A hypothesis-generating overview. Int J Mol Sci. 2016. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJMS17101700 (PubMed PMID: 27727180).

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Wu T, Song F, Cao W, Liu C, Jia S. Comparative efficacy of antidepressant medication for adolescent depression: a network meta-analysis and systematic review. BMC Psychiatry. 2025;25(1):1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/S12888-025-06941-X/FIGURES/5 (PubMed PMID: 40349006).

Article  Google Scholar 

Sunderajan P, Gaynes BN, Wisniewski SR, Miyahara S, Fava M, Akingbala F, et al. Insomnia in patients with depression: a STAR*D report. CNS Spectr. 2010;15(6):394–404. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1092852900029266 (PubMed PMID: 20625372).

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Stewart R, Besset A, Bebbington P, Brugha T, Lindesay J, Jenkins R, et al. Insomnia comorbidity and impact and hypnotic use by age group in a national survey population aged 16 to 74 years. Sleep. 2006;29(11):1391–7. https://doi.org/10.1093/SLEEP/29.11.1391 (PubMed PMID: 17162985).

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Geoffroy PA, Hoertel N, Etain B, Bellivier F, Delorme R, Limosin F, et al. Insomnia and hypersomnia in major depressive episode: prevalence, sociodemographic characteristics and psychiatric comorbidity in a population-based study. J Affect Disord. 2018;226:132–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.09.032 (PubMed PMID: 28972930).

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Vos CF, Birkenhäger TK, Nolen WA, Van Den Broek WW, Ter Hark SE, Schellekens AFA, et al. The relationship of early sleep improvement with response to pharmacotherapy in unipolar psychotic depression. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2023;43(6):486. https://doi.org/10.1097/JCP.0000000000001756 (PubMed PMID: 37930199).

Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

van Dalfsen JH, Kamphuis J, Türkmen C, Peen J, Booij SH, van Oosterzee KP, et al. The predictive value of insomnia for the treatment outcome of pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and combined therapy in major depressive disorder: a mega-analysis of five randomised clinical trials. J Affect Disord. 2025;387:119544. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JAD.2025.119544 (PubMed PMID: 40441632).

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Troxel WM, Kupfer DJ, Reynolds CF, Frank E, Thase ME, Miewald JM, et al. Insomnia and objectively measured sleep disturbances predict treatment outcome in depressed patients treated with psychotherapy or psychotherapy-pharmacotherapy combinations. J Clin Psychiatry. 2011;73:478. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.11M07184 (PubMed PMID: 22152403).

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Harris LM, Huang X, Linthicum KP, Bryen CP, Ribeiro JD. Sleep disturbances as risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviours: a meta-analysis of longitudinal studies. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/S41598-020-70866-6;SUBJMETA (PubMed PMID: 32807889).

Article  Google Scholar 

Zhou S, Li P, Lv X, Lai X, Liu Z, Zhou J, et al. Adverse effects of 21 antidepressants on sleep during acute-phase treatment in major depressive disorder: a systemic review and dose-effect network meta-analysis. Sleep. 2023;46(10):1–11. https://doi.org/10.1093/SLEEP/ZSAD177 (PubMed PMID: 37422714).

Article  Google Scholar 

España RA, Scammell TE. Sleep neurobiology from a clinical perspective. Sleep. 2011;34(7):845. https://doi.org/10.5665/SLEEP.1112 (PubMed PMID: 21731134).

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Ohayon MM, Carskadon MA, Guilleminault C, Vitiello MV. Meta-analysis of quantitative sleep parameters from childhood to old age in healthy individuals: developing normative sleep values across the human lifespan. Sleep. 2004;27(7):1255–73. https://doi.org/10.1093/SLEEP/27.7.1255 (PubMed PMID: 15586779).

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Lopp S, Navidi W, Achermann P, LeBourgeois M, Behn CD. Developmental changes in ultradian sleep cycles across early childhood: preliminary insights. J Biol Rhythms. 2017;32(1):64. https://doi.org/10.1177/0748730416685451 (PubMed PMID: 28088873).

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Shirota A, Kamimura M, Kishi A, Adachi H, Taniike M, Kato T. Discrepancies in the time course of sleep stage dynamics, electroencephalographic activity and heart rate variability over sleep cycles in the adaptation night in healthy young adults. Front Physiol. 2021;12:623401. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPHYS.2021.623401/BIBTEX.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Helakari H, Järvelä M, Väyrynen T, Tuunanen J, Piispala J, Kallio M, et al. Effect of sleep deprivation and NREM sleep stage on physiological brain pulsations. Front Neurosci. 2023;1(17):1275184. https://doi.org/10.3389/FNINS.2023.1275184/BIBTEX.

Article  Google Scholar 

Carskadon MA, Dement WC. Normal human sleep: an overview. In: Principles and practice of sleep medicine [Internet]. Elsevier Inc.; 2005. pp. 13–23. https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/84882820487?inward=. https://doi.org/10.1016/B0-72-160797-7/50009-4. Cited 24 Oct 2025.

McCarley RW. Neurobiology of REM and NREM sleep. Sleep Med. 2007;8(4):302–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2007.03.005 (PubMed PMID: 17468046).

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Mainieri G, Loddo G, Provini F, Nobili L, Manconi M, Castelnovo A. Diagnosis and management of NREM sleep parasomnias in children and adults. Diagnostics. 2023;13(7):1261. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics13071261 (PubMed PMID: 37046480).

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Della Monica C, Johnsen S, Atzori G, Groeger JA, Dijk DJ. Rapid eye movement sleep, sleep continuity and slow wave sleep as predictors of cognition, mood, and subjective sleep quality in healthy men and women, aged 20–84 years. Front Psychiatry. 2018. https://doi.org/10.3389/FPSYT.2018.00255 (PubMed PMID: 29988413).

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Palagini L, Baglioni C, Ciapparelli A, Gemignani A, Riemann D. REM sleep dysregulation in depression: state of the art. Sleep Med Rev. 2013;17(5):377–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SMRV.2012.11.001 (PubMed PMID: 23391633).

Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Zapalac K, Miller M, Champagne FA, Schnyer DM, Baird B. The effects of physical activity on sleep architecture and mood in naturalistic environments. Sci Rep. 2024;14(1):1–12. https://doi.org/10.1038/S41598-024-56332-7;SUBJMETA (PubMed PMID: 38454070).

Article  Google Scholar 

Edwards BA, O’Driscoll DM, Ali A, Jordan AS, Trinder J, Malhotra A. Aging and sleep: Physiology and pathophysiology. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2010;31:618. https://doi.org/10.1055/S-0030-1265902 (PubMed PMID: 20941662).

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Thompson KI, Chau M, Lorenzetti MS, Hill LD, Fins AI, Tartar JL. Acute sleep deprivation disrupts emotion, cognition, inflammation, and cortisol in young healthy adults. Front Behav Neurosci. 2022. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2022.945661.

Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Comments (0)

No login
gif