The effects of quetiapine on sleep in recovering alcohol-dependent subjects: a pilot study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this hypothesis-generating pilot study was to assess prospectively the objective and subjective effects of treatment with quetiapine XR on sleep during early recovery from alcohol dependence (AD).

METHODS:

Recovering subjects with AD and sleep disturbance complaints were treated with quetiapine XR (n = 10) or matching placebo pills (n = 10) for 8 weeks. Polysomnography was used to assess sleep objectively, and the Insomnia Severity Index and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were used to measure subjective insomnia. Other assessment measures included the 10-minute psychomotor vigilance task (for neurobehavioral functioning), the time-line follow-back measure (for alcohol consumption), the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale (for alcohol craving), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 item scale (for depressive symptoms), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (for anxiety symptoms).

RESULTS:

Although there was no effect of quetiapine XR on sleep efficiency (time spent asleep/total recording time), there was a pre-to-post reduction in wake after sleep onset time (P = 0.03) and nonsignificant trends for increases in sleep onset latency (SOL) and stage 2 sleep time. A time × drug interaction was seen for the subjective insomnia, such that quetiapine XR-treated subjects reported greater initial improvement in their subjective insomnia, but the difference was not sustained. There were no differences between treatment groups on other measures or medication compliance.

CONCLUSION:

Quetiapine XR improves objective sleep continuity and transiently improves subjective insomnia early in recovery from AD.

• Authors: Subhajit Chakravorty, Alexandra L Hanlon, Samuel T Kuna, Richard J Ross, Kyle M Kampman, Lauren M Witte, Michael L Perlis, David W Oslin
• Journal: Journal of clinical psychopharmacology (J Clin Psychopharmacol) Vol. 34 Issue 3 Pg. 350-4 (Jun 2014) ISSN: 1533-712X [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24747978 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antipsychotic Agents
• Delayed-Action Preparations
• Dibenzothiazepines
• Quetiapine Fumarate

Topics

• Alcoholism (rehabilitation)
• Antipsychotic Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Craving
• Delayed-Action Preparations
• Dibenzothiazepines (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pilot Projects
• Polysomnography
• Prospective Studies
• Psychomotor Performance (drug effects)
• Quetiapine Fumarate
• Severity of Illness Index
• Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders (drug therapy, etiology)
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Treatment Outcome