Increased Deep Sleep in a Medication-Free, Detoxified Female Offender With Schizophrenia, Alcoholism and a History of Attempted Homicide: Effect of Concomitant Administration of Quetiapine and Citalopram

• NCJ Number: 213964
• Journal: Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: 2006 Pages: 60-66
• Author(s): Nina Lindberg; Pekka Tani; Pirjo Takala; Eila Sailas; Hanna Putkonen; Markku Eronen; Matti Virkkunen
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research); Case Study
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

Since previous research has found that an increased amount of "deep sleep" is associated with antisocial personality disorder, this study assessed sleep patterns before and after treatment in a habitually violent female offender with schizophrenia and alcohol dependence and compared them with those of healthy, prosocial women of similar age.

Abstract

Findings showed that the patient differed significantly from the three healthy women on most sleep measures prior to the patient's treatment with medication that included quetiapine and citalopram, which are psychotropic medicines with antiaggressive effects. After 1 year on the medication, the patient's sleep had improved, and the non-REM (rapid eye movement) sleep measures were in the normal range. She also showed a sustained clinical and behavioral improvement. Further study of this issue is recommended. The study measured multiple variables related to the sleep patterns of the patient and three age-matched healthy women over two consecutive nights. After 1 year on the medication, the measurement of the sleep patterns of the patient was repeated. In each case, only the second night's sleep data were used in the analyses. 1 table and 22 references