EEG Sleep in Borderline Personality Disorder

Sleep disturbances are well known concomitants of affective disorders. Objective EEG studies have repeatedly confirmed that many arousals occur and less slow-wave-sleep occurs. More specifically, major depression is associated with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep disturbances. Most studies have documented three REM sleep abnormalities in depression. First, the number of minutes from sleep onset to the first REM period is less than usual (shortened REM latency), the first REM period lasts longer than usual, and the number of phasic rapid eye movements is much greater than usual during REM especially during the first REM period of the night.