Lecture 8 - Sleep and Mental Health

Question 1

How has insomnia been linked to mental health

Answer 1

30-40% insomniacs also have mental health problems

Question 2

How many people suffer from depression?

Answer 2

350 million

Question 3

Depression and sleep problems

Answer 3

Two thirds of depressed patients complain of insomnia

15% hypersomnia

Question 4

Depression in insomnia

Answer 4

Risk of developing MDD four times that in subjects with insomnia

Question 5

Women and men prevalence of depression

Answer 5

10-25% women
5-12% men
Notably women also more likely to get insomnia

Question 6

Depression and insomnia

Answer 6

9.82 times more likely to get depression if have insomnia

Question 7

Insomnia relationship with anxiety and depression

Answer 7

4 times more likely to develop insomnia I’d have anxiety and 3.5 times more likely to develop depression if have insomnia

Question 8

Depression and cortisol in relation to sleep

Answer 8

Depression and other stress-related disorders are also associated with sleep disturbances, elevated cortisol, and HPA axis dysfunction

Question 9

SD as a treatment for depression

Answer 9

SD is used as a short term treatment for depression and has been suggested to have a prophylactic effect in patients with recurring depression
One night kept awake
60% patients show beneficial effects
Majority relapse after a night of sleep
Partial SD over longer periods can worsen symptoms, cause hypomanic or manic reaction or epileptic seizures

Question 10

What mechanisms have linked sleep and depression

Answer 10

• genetic factors (neurotransmitter transporter or circadian genes)
• neurotransmitter imbalance (adenosine, serotonin)
• abnormal activity of HPA axis
• Over/under activation of specific brain networks (impaired plasticity)
• emotional regulation (increased REM)

Question 11

How is the PER3 gene related to depression and sleep?

Answer 11

A circadian clock gene
Associates with higher depression scores
Mice with gene show increase in depression like symptoms (lower sucrose intake)

Question 12

Which came first

Answer 12

Anxiety preceded insomnia -73%

Insomnia preceded depression -69%

Question 13

Schizophrenia and sleep

Answer 13

Schizophrenia is a chronic condition characterised by psychotic symptoms
Report insomnia
Poor sleep efficiency
Possible reversal of circadian rhythm- sleep during day
- SWS and REM in different symptoms
- thalamus and spindles

Question 14

Sleep problems in childhood leading to substance abuse

Answer 14

Children with sleep problems 3-5yrs were 2.3 times more likely to drink alcohol at 12-14 yrs