Year: 1991 Source: Psychiatry Research, v.36, no.3, (March 1991), p.265-277 SIEC No: 19911316

In a retrospective study of the EEG sleep of major depressives with & without a history of suicide attempts, suicide attempters had longer sleep latency, lower sleep efficiency & fewer late-night delta wave counts than normal controls. Nonattempters, compared to attempters, had less REM time & activity in Period 2, but more delta wave counts in non-REM Period 4. Findings are discussed in the context of current theories on the role of serotonin in the regulation of sleep & in suicidal behaviour.