Sleep disturbances, including disturbances in REM sleep, are common
among depressed adults; it is unclear if the same is true for depressed
adolescents. The authors monitored the sleep of 13 depressed adolescents
and 13 normal age-matched controls. They found that, as with depressed
adults, REM latency was significantly shorter and REM density significantly
greater in the depressed group. There was no correlation between reduced
REM latency and severity of depression, but there was a significant
negative correlation between REM latency and age.Abstract Teaser