Antidepressants suppress which stage of sleep?

Unlock all questions

This demo includes only 20 questions. Upgrade to access hundreds of questions, flashcards, exam simulations, and disable ads.

Full question bankExam simulationsFlashcards
From $24.99Unlock all

Prepare for the AASM Sleep Technologist Test. Enhance your knowledge with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each offering hints and detailed explanations. Get confident for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Antidepressants suppress which stage of sleep?

Explanation:
Antidepressants commonly alter sleep architecture by suppressing REM sleep. REM sleep is the stage associated with dreaming and rapid eye movements, and its generation is particularly sensitive to monoaminergic activity in the brainstem. Many antidepressants increase serotonin and/or norepinephrine, which strengthens REM-off pathways and dampens the activity of REM-promoting circuits that rely on acetylcholine. This leads to a later onset of REM, shorter total REM duration, and fewer REM episodes. Other sleep stages (the various NREM stages) can be affected variably by different antidepressants, but the consistent, distinguishing effect across many classes is REM suppression.

Antidepressants commonly alter sleep architecture by suppressing REM sleep. REM sleep is the stage associated with dreaming and rapid eye movements, and its generation is particularly sensitive to monoaminergic activity in the brainstem. Many antidepressants increase serotonin and/or norepinephrine, which strengthens REM-off pathways and dampens the activity of REM-promoting circuits that rely on acetylcholine. This leads to a later onset of REM, shorter total REM duration, and fewer REM episodes. Other sleep stages (the various NREM stages) can be affected variably by different antidepressants, but the consistent, distinguishing effect across many classes is REM suppression.

More Multiple Choice Questions
Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy