Sleep & Depression

Psychiatric disorders are frequently associated with disturbances of sleep and circadian rhythms.

Patients who have difficulty sleeping often have an associated depression or other psychological problem, and patients with psychiatric illness often have problems sleeping. Approximately 30% in both groups have an associated problem of obstructive sleep apnoea.

Approximately two-thirds of depressed patients complain of insomnia - difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings and early morning awakenings 2 to 4 hours earlier than desired, with difficulty returning to sleep.

15% of patients complain of hypersomnia. Women who are depressed are more likely to report insomnia than men. At the same time, people who have insomnia are at a higher risk of developing depression compared with those whole insomnia symptoms resolve.

Sleep changes are also found in patients with dysthymic disorder, bipolar disorder and cyclothymia.

Similarly to depressed patients, patients with anxiety disorders also experience sleep difficulties.

More and more common in Australia is the syndrome of substance induced sleep disorder. Alcohol may make one sleepy, but not for long. Stimulant use results in suppression of sleep and abuse of Xanax or other sedatives and hypnotics causes other types of sleep problems.