Abstract Mkid 99

The study examined the effect of sustained-release bupropion on sleep microarchitecture in unipolar depression, and evaluated the relationship between the observed sleep changes in response to a single-dose bupropion administration and clinical response to the drug during short-term treatment. Twenty adult patients with major depressive disorder were studied in the sleep laboratory twice for two consecutive nights. On the morning of second night during each session, either placebo or sustained-release bupropion (Wellbutrin SR7; 150 mg, PO) was administered. The participants then received open-label treatment with Wellbutrin-SR for eight weeks. Bupropion produced several effects on sleep microarchitecture. Overall, the frequency distribution of EEG was shifted towards faster frequencies, suggesting greater desynchronization. Bupropion also increased mean wave amplitude during REM sleep and exacerbated inter-hemispheric differences in the number of wave peaks. Neither sleep microarchitecture measures at baseline, nor those following bupropion administration, were related to treatment response. The lack of a predictive microarchitecture measure for response to bupropion treatment may be due to the modest sample size or due to its pharmacological profile of having minimal serotonergic activity. A simultaneous study of bupropion and serotonergic agents would be helpful in clarifying this issue.