Understanding the link between insomnia and depression
Getting no sleep is no fun, but with insomnia, the effects can be even more severe. Depression, a mental health disorder characterized by a consistently depressed mood and/or lack of interest in activities previously found to be enjoyable, is commonly accompanied by or caused by insomnia.
Depression can affect all areas of your life, including:
- Appetite
- Concentration
- Energy level
- Motivation
People with major depression report feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, worthlessness, and may have suicidal thoughts. However, the majority of all people with depression experience symptoms of insomnia, consisting of:
- Difficulty in falling asleep
- Difficulty staying asleep
- Early morning awakening
- Non-refreshing sleep
What the evidence shows us
Studies of depressed patients show prolonged sleep latency (time to fall asleep), lack of slow wave sleep (also known as deep sleep), reduced REM sleep latency (time to REM sleep from sleep onset), and increased amount of REM sleep (dreaming sleep).
There is much evidence linking depression with sleep disorders, and it has been shown that insomnia increases the risk of depression and that depression can cause insomnia. Studies have shown that the risk of developing depression among people with insomnia is twice that of those without insomnia. Of all the symptoms of depression, insomnia is often the last to respond to medications, and untreated insomnia increases the risk of a depression relapse. Talk to your healthcare provider about options for treating your insomnia along with a co-occurring condition like depression.