Stress in Subjects Undergoing Sleep Deprivation

Abstract

Psychological, physiological, and biochemical studies were conducted on 4 healthy young-adult males while they underwent 120 hr. of sleep deprivation. The subjects quickly Formed a group and dealt with this contrived stress in much the same way that groups cope with stressful environments. Although it is concluded that sleep deprivation is stressful, our measurements did not show an adrenocortical activation. The question of the psychotogenic potency of sleep deprivation is reviewed and it is concluded that sleep deprivation per se is not an adequate stimulus for the production of psychosis.