Bedfellows: Insomnia and Depression

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 21:12:33 GMT

Sleep disturbances and unipolar depression are such intransigent bedfellows that troubled sleep is considered a hallmark of the mood disorder. At least 80% of depressed people experience insomnia -- difficulty falling asleep or, most often, staying asleep. Indeed, early morning awakening is a virtual giveaway of depression. Another 15% of the depressed sleep excessively.

But it may be that insomnia is more than just a symptom of depression. It may in fact unleash the mood disorder. If sleep researcher Michael Perlis, Ph.D., is right, insomnia may be an early harbinger of depression. His longitudinal studies show that it appears to precede episodes of depression by about five weeks. And sleep disorder intensifies over the course of a new depressive episode or relapse, says Perlis, associate professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Rochester and director of the behavioral sleep medicine service.

Tags: insomnia, depression, sleep, mlf

Move to Boost Mood

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 20:12:28 GMT

clipped by: morgainelefaye

Clip Source: www.psychologytoday.com

What would you say about a remedy for depression that lifted your mood, restored your energy, realigned your brain chemistry, improved your sense of self—and cost nothing?

Tags: depression, exercise, mlf

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Bedfellows: Insomnia and Depression

Move to Boost Mood