Insomnia has long been associated with anxiety and depression. However, new evidence suggests that it may cause depression rather than be a result of it.
In one study, seniors with both insomnia and depression were 17 times more likely to remain depressed after a year than seniors without insomnia. In another study, seniors with insomnia but with no history of depression were 6 times more likely to experience an episode of depression.
The numbers were worse for women and for those who awaken repeatedly in the night from insomnia.
The studies were conducted at the University of Rochester Sleep and Neurophysiology Research Laboratory.
Researchers discovered that even if the depression were successfully treated, the insomnia would remain a problem. This indicates that the insomnia is not merely a symptom of depression.
There is growing evidence linking chronic insomnia with other common ailments, including high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, two of the primary conditions that make up metabolic syndrome.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has bee demonstrated to help with chronic insomnia, and to be more effective than Ambien, one of the medications most commonly prescribed for insomnia.
CBT has been endorsed for insomnia treatment by an expert panel of the National Institutes of Health. CBT has previously been confirmed though multiple studies to be as effective as anti-depressants in the treatment of depression.
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