Spectral analysis of sleep electroencephalography in rotating three-shift work.

Fourteen male rotating three-shift workers were subjected to 24-h ambulatory polysomnographic recording in connection with morning, afternoon, and night shift work (at home and at work). Total sleep time, stage 2, rapid-eye-movement sleep, and slow-wave sleep (stages 3 + 4) were significantly reduced during sleep in connection with the night and morning shifts. Other visually scored sleep parameters and slow-wave energy (spectral power density integrated across sleep) were not affected. The content of the sleep cycles did not differ between shifts. The sleep before the morning shift was characterized by subjectively increased difficulties of sleep initiation and sleep termination, as well as by insufficient recuperation. The night shift was characterized by increased subjective difficulties of maintaining sleep, but also by increased ease of sleep initiation. It was concluded that both morning and evening shifts interfered with sleep, although no effects of sleep deprivation were found.