METHODS FOR REM SLEEP DENSITY ASSESSMENT: A SCOPING REVIEW

Rapid eye movements (REM) are one of the main features of REM sleep, being observed intermittently through this sleep stage. REM sleep density has been suggested as a parameter to account for the variability in the quantity of eye movements during REM sleep. Alterations in REM sleep density are observed in some psychiatric conditions, especially depression, although its diagnostic accuracy has not been properly determined. A limitation to the applicability of REM sleep density for diagnostic purposes is the lack of consensus on its scoring criteria. The heterogeneity of the methods used for scoring it limits the clinical applicability and external validity of REM sleep density as a diagnostic measure.