Persistent and Worsening Insomnia May Predict Persistent Depression in Older Adults

A study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers published in Sleep suggests that older adults with depression may be at a significantly higher risk of remaining depressed if they experience persistent or worsening insomnia, reports EurekAlert . The investigators examined data from 599 people older than 60 who visited primary care centers in the Northeast United States. Subjects with a pattern of worsening insomnia over the following year had almost 30 times greater odds of being diagnosed with major depression at the end of that year, versus those whose sleep had improved during that year. Those with worsening insomnia also were much more likely to be diagnosed with minor depression, and more likely to report thoughts of suicide at the end of the year. In addition, older adults with persistent but not worsening insomnia symptoms were more likely to have persistent major or minor depression, but their risk was not as elevated as those with worsening sleep. "The results suggest that older adults who are being treated for depression and whose sleep problems are persistent or worsening need further clinical attention," said Bloomberg School Professor Adam Spira.