Low Dose of Aripiprazole Advanced Sleep Rhythm and Reduced Nocturnal Sleep Time in the Patients with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome: an Open-labeled Clinical Observation

Overview

Journal Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2018 Jun 1

PMID 29849459

Citations 9

Authors

Yuki Omori

Takashi Kanbayashi

Yohei Sagawa

Aya Imanishi

Ko Tsutsui

Yuya Takahashi

Masahiro Takeshima

Manabu Takaki

Seiji Nishino

Tetsuo Shimizu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: Delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS) is a chronic dysfunction of circadian rhythm of the subject that impairs functioning in social, occupational, or other spheres. High rate of depression is found among DSPS patients. Aripiprazole (APZ), a second-generation antipsychotic, is effective in treatment of depression as well as schizophrenia. Recently, few case reports show the effectiveness of APZ in treating DSPS and non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder. Therefore, we tried to treat DSPS with depression using APZ.

Methods: Twelve subjects (including four women) aged 19-64 years were included. The subjects were prescribed initially 0.5-3 mg of APZ once a day with subsequent dose adjustments.

Results: Sleep onset, midpoint of sleep, and sleep offset were significantly advanced by 1.1, 1.8, and 2.5 hours, respectively. Unexpectedly, sleep duration became significantly shorter by 1.3 hours after treatment. Their depressive moods showed an unremarkable change.

Conclusion: Low dose of APZ advanced the sleep rhythm and reduced nocturnal sleep time in the subjects with DSPS. Since it is not easy for physicians to treat prolonged sleep duration often associated with DSPS, this medication would become a new therapeutic option for these patients.

Citing Articles

Integrating Assessment of Circadian Rhythmicity to Improve Treatment Outcomes for Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders: Updates on New Treatments.

Gloston G, Ward K, Rodriguez-Torres G, Gamble K, Thomas S Curr Sleep Med Rep. 2025; 11(1):8.

PMID: 39975943 PMC: 11832606. DOI: 10.1007/s40675-025-00325-z.

Commentary: Aripiprazole disrupts cellular synchrony in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and enhances entrainment to environmental light-dark cycles in mice.

Kitajima T Front Neurosci. 2024; 18:1371195.

PMID: 38707592 PMC: 11066157. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1371195.

Aripiprazole disrupts cellular synchrony in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and enhances entrainment to environmental light-dark cycles in mice.

Li R, Masuda K, Ono D, Kanbayashi T, Hirano A, Sakurai T Front Neurosci. 2023; 17:1201137.

PMID: 37621713 PMC: 10445652. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1201137.

Delayed sleep-wake phase disorder and its related sleep behaviors in the young generation.

Futenma K, Takaesu Y, Komada Y, Shimura A, Okajima I, Matsui K Front Psychiatry. 2023; 14:1174719.

PMID: 37275982 PMC: 10235460. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1174719.

Efficacy of a Combination Therapy for Difficulties Waking Up in Non-School-Attending Students.

Konishi N, Kumagai H, Sawatari H, Hoshino T, Murase Y, Yamaguchi M J Clin Med. 2022; 11(12).

PMID: 35743342 PMC: 9225467. DOI: 10.3390/jcm11123271.

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