Which statement best describes the effect of benzodiazepines on sleep architecture?

Which statement best describes the effect of benzodiazepines on sleep architecture?

• A. They increase REM and N3
• B. They decrease REM and N3, and increase SE and TST
• C. They only affect sleep onset latency
• D. They have no effect on sleep stages

Answer: (B)

Benzodiazepines increase sleep continuity and total sleep time while reducing certain sleep stages. They make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep, which raises measures of sleep efficiency and overall time spent asleep. At the same time, they blunt the brain’s deeply restorative stages, so REM sleep and slow-wave sleep (the deepest NREM stage) are reduced. This combination—more time asleep and fewer interruptions, but less REM and deep sleep—explains why the statement describing decreased REM and N3 with increased sleep efficiency and total sleep time best captures their effect on sleep architecture.

Benzodiazepines increase sleep continuity and total sleep time while reducing certain sleep stages. They make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep, which raises measures of sleep efficiency and overall time spent asleep. At the same time, they blunt the brain’s deeply restorative stages, so REM sleep and slow-wave sleep (the deepest NREM stage) are reduced. This combination—more time asleep and fewer interruptions, but less REM and deep sleep—explains why the statement describing decreased REM and N3 with increased sleep efficiency and total sleep time best captures their effect on sleep architecture.