Sleep disturbance and depression recurrence in community-dwelling older adults: a prospective study.

TitleSleep disturbance and depression recurrence in community-dwelling older adults: a prospective study.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsCho HJin, Lavretsky H, Olmstead R, Levin MJ, Oxman MN, Irwin MR
JournalAm J Psychiatry
Volume165
Issue12
Pagination1543-50
Date Published2008 Dec
ISSN1535-7228
KeywordsAged, Chronic Disease, Demography, Depressive Disorder, Major, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Recurrence, Residence Characteristics, Severity of Illness Index, Sleep Wake Disorders
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: A prior depressive episode is thought to increase the risk of depression. However, among older adults with prior depression, it is unclear whether sleep disturbance predicts depression recurrence independent of other depressive symptoms.

METHOD: A 2-year prospective cohort study was conducted with 351 community-dwelling older adults ages 60 years and older: 145 persons with a history of major or nonmajor depression in full remission and 206 without a prior history of depression or any mental illness. The participants were assessed at baseline, 6 weeks, 1 year, and 2 years for depressive episodes, depressive symptoms, sleep quality, and chronic medical disease.

RESULTS: Twenty-three subjects (16.9%) with prior depression developed depressive episodes during follow-up, compared to only one person in the group without prior mental illness (0.5%). Within the group with prior depression, depression recurrence was predicted by sleep disturbance, and this association was independent of other depressive symptoms, chronic medical disease, and antidepressant medication use.

CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to demonstrate that sleep disturbance acts as an independent risk factor for depression recurrence in community-dwelling older adults. To identify older adults at risk for depression, a two-step strategy can be employed, which involves assessment of the presence of a prior depressive episode along with sleep disturbance.

DOI10.1176/appi.ajp.2008.07121882
Alternate JournalAm J Psychiatry
PubMed ID18765482
PubMed Central IDPMC2707854
Grant List5P30-AG02874 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
K23 MH001948 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
M01 RR000865 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
M01 RR000865-358141 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG028748 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG028748-049004 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG018367 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG018367-05 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG026364 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG026364-05 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA119159 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 CA119159-04 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL079955 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 HL079955-04 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH055253 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01 MH055253-05 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
R01-AG18367 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01-MH55253 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32 MH018399 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32 MH018399-15 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32 MH019925 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32 MH019925-12 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States
T32-MH18399 / MH / NIMH NIH HHS / United States