The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Dissociation and Profiles of Mood, and Its Association with Biochemical Changes

INTRODUCTION: Sleep deprivation is a method, which has being used in order to comprehend the functions of sleep both in healthy individuals and for the patients of depression with in treatment, for a long time.

The objective of our present study is to examine the relation between hormonal values, which are known for being related to the effects of these said changes determined in the mood, dissociation and thought suppression in healthy individuals after one night of sleep deprivation implementation.

METHODS: One night sleep deprivation was performed on a total of thirty-two healthy volunteers (16 males and 16 females) who were included in the study.

Blood samples were taken from the individuals before and after sleep deprivation implementation in order to determine cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEA-S) and Thyroid Functions’ Levels tests.

In order to evaluate the effects of the sleep deprivation on moods, “White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI)” has been conducted, with an aim of evaluating thought suppression, “Profile of Mood States (POMS)”, “Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES)” with a purpose of realizing any dissociation tendency.

RESULTS: On the individuals who have been implemented for sleep deprivation, a decrease on depression and vigor-activity sub-scales values was detected, and an increase was determined on fatigue sub-scales values of “POMS”.

While the values of DES were found to have been statistically increased after sleep deprivation, also a significant decrease was determined on WBSI values.

Even if there hasn’t been any significant statistical change determined on cortisol levels after sleep deprivation, yet there had been some significant changes detected on Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), fT3, fT4, and DHEA-S levels.

Decrease in “POMS” depression sub-scale values and increase on fatigue sub-scale values were determined on the individuals whose sT4 levels were found to be increased significantly in statistic manner after the sleep deprivation.

CONCLUSION: According to the results of our study, sleep deprivation for one night was determined to cause decrease on depressive mood, increase on dissociative symptoms and to lower the tendency of suppressing the unwanted thoughts, consciously.

The fact of being obtained lower depression values, on the individuals with the increased DHEA-S levels after the sleep deprivation meets with the information claiming that the high DHEA-S levels may be deemed as protectors against the negative effects of the stress.