Depression is bad enough by itself. But depression coupled with insomnia is even worse.
According to researchers from the University of Rochester who looked at depression and insomnia in about 1,800
people age 60 and older, those with persistent problems falling asleep and staying asleep were significantly more
likely to remain depressed than those who slept well. Patients receiving usual care for their depression were more
affected by insomnia than those receiving enhanced care.
“Even when depression was identified and treated in the primary care setting, the older adults in this study were more
likely to remain depressed if they also exhibited persistent insomnia,” study author Wilfred R. Pigeon, Ph.D., was
quoted as saying. “The finding that this risk was higher in the usual care group suggests that enhanced depression
care may partially mitigate the perpetuating effects of insomnia on depression.”
The author goes on to note that only recently have doctors recognized the role insomnia may play in depression and
considered how treating it could alleviate the primary problem.
“While the findings make intuitive sense, until relatively recently, insomnia was often considered a symptom that
dissipated without active intervention once a primary condition like depression was treated, instead of being
considered a distinct clinical entity that might affect a primary disorder,” Dr. Pigeon says. “What seems most likely is
that insomnia is indeed simply a symptom in some cases, but clearly a disorder requiring its own treatment focus in
other cases.”
According to researchers from the University of Rochester who looked at depression and insomnia in about 1,800
people age 60 and older, those with persistent problems falling asleep and staying asleep were significantly more
likely to remain depressed than those who slept well. Patients receiving usual care for their depression were more
affected by insomnia than those receiving enhanced care.
“Even when depression was identified and treated in the primary care setting, the older adults in this study were more
likely to remain depressed if they also exhibited persistent insomnia,” study author Wilfred R. Pigeon, Ph.D., was
quoted as saying. “The finding that this risk was higher in the usual care group suggests that enhanced depression
care may partially mitigate the perpetuating effects of insomnia on depression.”
The author goes on to note that only recently have doctors recognized the role insomnia may play in depression and
considered how treating it could alleviate the primary problem.
“While the findings make intuitive sense, until relatively recently, insomnia was often considered a symptom that
dissipated without active intervention once a primary condition like depression was treated, instead of being
considered a distinct clinical entity that might affect a primary disorder,” Dr. Pigeon says. “What seems most likely is
that insomnia is indeed simply a symptom in some cases, but clearly a disorder requiring its own treatment focus in
other cases.”
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