Potentiation of antidepressant medications by phase advance of the sleep-wake cycle.

Four patients with major depression who were unresponsive to antidepressant medications rapidly improved and remained euthymic after an advance of the sleep-wake cycle. Phase advance of the sleep-wake cycle and antidepressant treatment may have complementary effects on the circadian system. The authors suggest that the combination may be useful in treating drug nonresponders and in hastening response to antidepressant drugs.