Richard was diagnosed with major depressive disorder for which his physician prescribed a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). Richard should expect that he will
A) have difficulty staying awake in class.
B) spend much more time in NREM, which may result in joint and muscle pains in the morning.
C) dream less than he did prior to taking the drug.
D) dream more than he did prior to taking the drug.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

SSRIs have been shown to decrease the amount of REM (rapid-eye-movement) sleep, which is when most dreaming occurs. Therefore, Richard should expect to dream less than he did prior to taking the drug. Options A and B are not typical side effects of SSRIs, and there is no evidence to suggest that SSRIs increase dreaming (option D).

Richard Was Diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder for Which His