Nocturnal awakenings as a function of age in insomniacs
Garma, L.; Bouard, G.
Revue Neurologique (Paris) 137(11): 677-692
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0035-3787 PMID: 7336021 Document Number: 181097
The effect of ageing on the sleep of insomniacs was studied by comparing objective insomnia characteristics from polygraphic recordings made during two successive nights in two groups of different ages : 14 patients aged 19 to 39 years (mean 31 years) and 11 aged 42 to 65 years (mean 50 years). All of them had severe insomnia causing them to request consultation for sleep disorders. Their only clinical symptom was chronic primary insomnia, persisting following withdrawal of hypnotics, no other physical (particularly no sleep apnea) or psychological disorder being present. Parameters studied during the first and the second night were the number and duration of intra-sleep awakenings, and the proportions of the sleep and wakefulness periods.