The effects of individual biological rhythm differences on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and dissociative experiences

Individuals who differ markedly by sleep chronotype, i.e., morning-type or evening-type also differ on a number of psychological, behavioral, and biological variables. Among several other psychological functions, dissociation may also lead to disruption and alteration of consciousness, which may facilitate dream-like experiences. Our study was aimed at an inquiry into the effects of individual biological rhythm differences on sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in conjunction with dissociative experiences. Participants were 372 undergraduate college students, completed a package of psychological instruments, including the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire, Dissociative Experiences Scale, Insomnia Severity Index, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Using logistic regression models, direct relations of pathological dissociation with sleepiness, sleep quality and circadian preferences were investigated. Poor sleep quality and sleepiness significantly contributed to the variance of dissociative symptomatology. Although there was no substantial linear association between circadian preferences and pathological dissociation, having evening-type preferences of sleep was indirectly associated with higher dissociation mediated by poor sleep quality. Poor sleep quality and daytime sleepiness seems to be significant antecedents of pathological dissociation. Sleep chronotype preferences underlie this relational pattern that chronobiological characteristics seem to influence indirectly on dissociative tendency via sleep quality.

Biological correlates of major depression and generalized anxiety disorder in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to compare the levels of serum androgens in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) who had a diagnosis of only major depressive disorder (MDD), only generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) or who had no psychiatric disorder, as determined by a structured clinical interview. Another objective of the study was to examine whether an association exists between these psychiatric diagnoses and insulin resistance or body mass index via a comparison among the study groups in terms of these parameters.

METHOD

This study was performed between March 2011 and February 2012. A total of 73 patients were included in the study. The study sample consisted of three groups: PCOS patients with only major depressive disorder (n=23), PCOS patients with only generalized anxiety disorder (n=20), and PCOS patients without any diagnosed psychiatric disorders (not diagnosed - ND group, n=30).

RESULTS

Significant difference was found among the three groups with regard to the serum levels of 17-OHP and DHEAS. When multiple comparisons were performed among the groups, 17-OHP levels were significantly higher in the MDD group than in the ND group. DHEAS levels were significantly higher in the MDD group and the GAD group than in the ND group.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that MDD and GAD appear to be associated with higher DHEAS levels.