The Bidirectional Association Between Depression and Insomnia
Psychosomatic Medicine, 08/10/2012
Sivertsen B et al. – The results support a bidirectional relationship between insomnia and depression. This finding stands in contrast to the previous studies, which have mainly focused on insomnia as a risk factor for the onset of depression.
Methods- Data were collected from a prospective population-based study comprising the most recent waves of the Nord-Trondelag Health Study (HUNT) (the HUNT2 in 1995–1997 and the HUNT3 in 2006–2008).
- A total of 24,715 persons provided valid responses on the relevant questionnaires from both surveys.
- Study outcomes were onset of depression or insomnia at HUNT3 in persons not reporting the other disorder in HUNT2.
- Both insomnia and depression significantly predicted the onset of the other disorder.
- Participants who did not have depression in HUNT2 but who had insomnia in both HUNT2 and HUNT3 had an odds ratio (OR) of 6.2 of developing depression at HUNT3.
- Participants who did not have insomnia in HUNT2 but who had depression in both HUNT2 and HUNT3 had an OR of 6.7 of developing insomnia at HUNT3.
- ORs were only slightly attenuated when adjusting for potential confounding factors.
