SLEEP PATTERNS, TEMPERATURE RHYTHMS, AND HEALTH OUTCOMES IN HEALTHY WOMEN AT TWO PHASES OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE.
Contributors: University of Washington.
Published: 1986
Number of pages: 164
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to describe sleep patterns and circadian temperature rhythms during the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in relation to health outcomes. Of the 15 subjects studied, 9 met the progesterone level criteria for cycle-phase difference and were used for within-subject analyses. Subjects were 25 to 35 years of age and maintained their normal activities while participating in the study. Continuous polysomnographic data were recorded during two consecutive nights at each phase and analyzed in 30-second epochs for salient sleep characteristics. Continuous rectal temperature was recorded at 15-second intervals from their first evening in the sleep laboratory until awakening after the second night's sleep. Temperature data were analyzed using a least squares fit to a cosinusoidal wave to determine the amplitude and acrophase. At each phase, subjects completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS) and a 7-day diary in which symptoms were rated according to perceived severity.

There was a significant decrease in rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep latency (p = .05) and dampening of the temperature rhythm amplitude (p = .025) from the follicular to luteal phase. There was no significant difference in acrophase. On the basis of POMS and symptom severity scores, three subjects were classified as having premenstrual distress.

During the luteal phase, a higher mean body temperature was related to less REM sleep (r = -.80), a poorer sleep efficiency index (r = -.78), and more wakefulness during the night (r = .63). A later temperature acrophase was related to more REM sleep (rho = .71) and a later onset of slow-wave sleep (rho = .75). A more dampened temperature amplitude was related to higher POMS scores (more negative mood state) at both the follicular (r = -.69) and luteal (r = -.60) phases. A more negative mood state was related to an earlier REM onset during the follicular (rho = -.78) and luteal (rho = -.85) phases. Higher symptom severity scores were associated with a longer sleep onset latency (r = .84).

These results suggest that sleep patterns and circadian temperature rhythms during the luteal phase (premenstruum) resemble those of depressed, elderly, and jet-lagged persons. These results also support other study findings on relationships between sleep, temperature, and mood state.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 48-01, Section: B, page: 0090.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, 1986.

School code: 0250.