Sleep problems in anxious and depressive older adults

Abstract

PurposeThe objective of this study was to identify the sleep problems most often encountered by the elderly according to the presence or absence of anxiety and mood disorders. The aim was also to determine whether groups of anxious, depressive, and asymptomatic individuals differ in relation to sleep onset latency; awakenings at night or early in the morning; subjective quality of sleep; taking of sleep medication; and daytime sleepiness.MethodsStructured interviews based on the DSM-IV-TR were administered to a sample of 2,759 seniors aged 65 years and older at the participants’ home by health professionals.ResultsAwakening was found to be the most common disturbance. Increased sleep onset latency was the second most frequent sleep difficulty. Taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep was associated with the likelihood of meeting the diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder, and even reduced the risk of meeting the diagnostic criteria for a mood disorder rather than an anxiety disorder. Awakenings were associated with the probability of suffering from an anxiety disorder or a mood disorder. Quality of sleep, as perceived by the elderly, was not found to be associated with the probability of suffering from a mental disorder.ConclusionThese findings should help to facilitate the practitioner’s diagnosis and add further nuances to be considered when encountering symptoms of an anxious or depressive appearance. All of these data also add fuel to the ongoing debate about whether anxiety and depression are one or two distinct categories of disorders.

Association between anxious symptoms and sleeping medication use among US older adults

“…First, among a national sample of older adults, respondents with high anxiety symptoms had significantly greater odds of sleeping medication use compared to older adults with low anxiety symptoms, even after adjusting for potential confounding. Second, we replicated previous findings that have associated depressive symptoms with sleeping medication use (Potvin et al , 2014; Omvik et al , 2010; Leblanc et al , 2015; Vaidya et al , 2014). Third, a greater number of chronic health conditions, worse self-rated health, being female and White were also associated with increased odds of using sleeping medications.…”

“…Studies of older adults living outside of U.S. have inconsistently identified anxiety symptoms as a predictor of sleeping medication use (Potvin et al , 2014; Leblanc et al , 2015; Omvik et al , 2010). One study among the U.S. general population did associate anxiety and sleeping medications, though did not identify age as a significant factor (Vaidya et al , 2014).…”

“…However, several studies report differences in the types of insomnia observed in anxiety compared to depression and their relationships to sleeping medication use (Leblanc et al , 2015; Potvin et al , 2014). For example, one study assessing sleep quality (Leblanc et al , 2015) found that depression was associated with waking during the night and early morning, sleepiness during the day, and the use of a sleeping medication, while anxiety was associated with longer sleep latency and waking during the evening and early morning. The authors posit that the observed differences in sleep quality, namely longer sleep latency, may be due to, in part, the central nervous system activation and rumination that occurs in anxiety disorders.…”

Association of Tryptophan Hydroxylase-2 Gene rs4290270 with Primary Insomnia and Depressive Symptoms in a Chinese Han Population

“…About 20% of people with insomnia suffer from major depression ( 5 ), yet 69% of people with depression have mild or moderate insomnia ( 6 , 7 ). It is widely recognized that insomnia may serve as a useful warning signal, because of the frequent occurrence of insomnia before a bout of depression strikes ( 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 ).…”

Patients Perspective on Multiple vs. Single-occupancy Rooms in a Busy District Hospital

“…It has generally been shown that noise roughly causes 11% to 20% of arousals and awakenings during sleep [12]. It is established that anxiety disorders are also associated with interrupted sleep [13]; a better nights' sleep and the concurrent lowered anxiety leads to quicker recovery and better satisfaction of the patients. Kirk conducted a study in a hospice in England and he found that a majority of patients preferred room with single occupancy as it offered more privacy, less ambient noise, better quality of sleep, less embarrassment and also because family members could stay without upsetting other patients [13].…”