Many researchers posit that people who suffer from depression mostly experience sleep

disturbance. Although some sleeping disturbances are perceived as signs of

depression, some patients develop such symptoms earlier. The relationship that exists
between sleeping disturbance and depression is a complex phenomenon that has left
unanswered questions amongst psychologists. This essay critically reviews the
relationship that exists between depression and sleep disturbance with regards to
various studies that have been conducted in the two conditions.

Persistent Sleep Disturbance: A Risk Factor for Recurrent Depression in

Community-Dwelling Older Adults by Lee et al.

A research conducted by Lee et al. indicated that there was a relationship between
depression and sleep disturbance (1685). It was revealed that a risk factor relation
existed where persistent sleep disturbances led to the development of depression in
subsequent years (Lee et al. 1685). However, there was a confusion that was noted in
the study. It was emphasized that persistent disturbance, its severity, and the
intermittent nature of the sleep were not associated with depression and its recurrence
in the following years. Therefore, it is difficult to draw conclusions that sleep disturbance
leads to depression (Lee et al. 1685).

Although many findings confirmed that sleep disturbance led to depression, as shown in
the studies, an indication that such results were consistent amongst participants of
different age bracket was difficult to prove. This situation arose from the limitation of the
study on adults alone.

Sleep Disturbance and Depression: Risk Relationships for Subsequent

Depression and Therapeutic Implications by Franzen and Buysse.

This article focuses on the cross-sectional association that exists between sleep
disturbance and major depression disorder (MDD). MDD is a type of disorder that
occurs in patients with insomnia (Franzen and Buysse 473). Further longitudinal
relationships were built to examine the risks of sleep disorders, and the development of
depression, implications of sleep disturbances, clinical course, and patient response to
treatment. Lastly, the research focused on the effectiveness of the intervention for the
improvement of sleep (Franzen and Buysse 473).

The researchers exposed that depression and sleep disturbances are directly related.
They arrived at this point by elaborating research conducted by Tsuno, Besset, and
Ritchie in 2005, where 90 percent of the patients with depressions had sleeping
disturbances (Tsuno, Besset, and Ritchie 1254). From a personal viewpoint, such
conclusions are wrong since sleeping disturbance can occur due to several reasons that
include the side effects of treatments, stress, shock, and age, among others.

In other cases, depression is noted to be the cause of chronic sleep disturbance and
insomnia rather than vice versa. Other researchers have also indicated that sleeping
disorders always occur in patients with mood disorders prior to depression symptoms. It
can even occur without the depression that follows subsequently (Tsuno, Besset, and
Ritchie 1254).

The sleeping disturbance is a risk factor that leads to depression in the end. I agree with
Franzen and Buysse concerning this statement as they proved this phenomenon using
their longitudinal studies (473). According to a study conducted by the National Institute
of Mental Health, the two researchers mentioned that people are more prone to develop
new depression episodes with recurrent sleeping disturbances (Franzen and Buysse
473).

Franzen and Buysse suggest that earlier diagnosis of sleeping disturbances may help in
the treatment of depression (473). At this point, I disagree with the notion of earlier
diagnosis and treatment. My suggestion is that diagnosis should be conducted on the
causes of sleeping disturbance that can occur due to psychological problems. On the
longitudinal study aspect, I further object the notion that sleeping disturbances and
depressions are longitudinally related. This fact is also confirmed by other researchers
who have noted that sleeping disturbance (without depression) and depression (without
sleeping disturbance) are not longitudinally related (Pigeon et al. 481).

Some studies also indicated that there were no relationships that existed between
depression and sleeping disturbances. Sleeping disturbances do not precede
depression (Franzen and Buysse, 473). Perhaps, such ideas are unsubstantiated. For
example, a study conducted by Perlis et al. in 2006 involving 147 adults to test sleeping
disturbance and history of mental problems indicated that they were likely to develop
the condition (104). The scores were based on the Hamilton Scale following a duration
separated by one year. Participants with frequent sleep disturbances were likely to
develop new episodes of depression during the follow-up since their scores were one
and above when compared with those who scored zero (Perlis 104).

A separate longitudinal study involving 524 adults indicated a prediction of depression in

subsequent years due to sleep disturbances only when other risk factors were included
(Pigeon et al. 481). It was also indicated that patients with sleeping disturbances were
prone to depression, especially when follow-ups were not done. There is clarity that
sleeping disturbances are related to depression and mood disorders. The research also
reveals that sleep disturbances that occur during the treatment period interfere with the
healing process.

The Relationship between Depression and Sleep Disturbances: Japanese

Nationwide General Population Survey by Kaneita et al.

The article stated was based on the research conducted by Kaneita et al. to shed light
on the relationships that existed between depression and sleep disturbance (196). The
researchers based their arguments on aspects such as sleep duration, presence or
absence of insomnia symptoms, and sleep sufficiency with regards to depression
amongst the Japanese population (Kaneita et al. 198). The evaluation was done by
measuring the presence of depression using the Center for Epidemiologic Study
Depression Scale (CESDS). The results showed that the participants who slept for less
than 6 hours had a high chance of developing depression. This case was also noted
amongst the ones who spent 8 hours and above in sleep. However, individuals whose
sleeping duration fell between 6 and 8 hours were less likely to develop depression.
Following such results, it was noted that sleep duration was associated with depression
symptoms. It was further identified that insufficient sleep significantly increased
depression symptoms (Kaneita et al. 200).