On pineal calcification and its relation to subjective sleep perception: a hypothesis-driven pilot study

Kunz, Dieter; Bes, Frederik; Schlattmann, Peter; Herrmann, Werner Martin

« PreviousPsychiatry Research: Neuroimaging
Volume 82, Issue 3 , Pages 187-191, 30 June 1998

On pineal calcification and its relation to subjective sleep perception: a hypothesis-driven pilot study

Department of Psychiatry, Interdisciplinary Sleep Clinic, Freie Universität Berlin, Eschenallee 3, 14050 Berlin, Germany

Received 25 September 1997; received in revised form 19 December 1997; accepted 23 January 1998.

Abstract

We classified the degree of pineal calcification (DOC) into seven groups using cranial Computer Tomography (cCT) and then correlated pineal DOC to chronic subjective sleep-related disturbances as measured by a sleep questionnaire in 36 patients. Analysed by logistic regression models, age and sex were not, but higher pineal DOC was significantly associated with the presence of daytime tiredness (OR=4.15, 95% CI: 1.63, 10.54) and sleep disturbance (OR=1.74, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.74). This study provides initial confirmation of the hypothesis that the increasing degree of pineal calcification (DOC) might indicate a decrease of melatonin production, which consecutively might lead to a disturbed circadian rhythmicity in the sleep-wake cycle, with the principal symptom being daytime tiredness.

Keywords: Calcification, Circadian rhythm disorder, Melatonin, Pineal gland, Sleep