Chronic insomnia as a risk factor for developing anxiety and depression
PainSci summary of Neckelmann 2007?This page is one of thousands in the PainScience.com bibliography. It is not a general article: it is focused on a single scientific paper, and it may provide only just enough context for the summary to make sense. Links to other papers and more general information are provided at the bottom of the page, as often as possible. ★★★☆☆?3-star ratings are for typical studies with no more (or less) than the usual common problems. Ratings are a highly subjective opinion, and subject to revision at any time. If you think this paper has been incorrectly rated, please let me know.
The results of this large and well-conducted survey are “consistent with insomnia being a risk factor for the development of anxiety disorders.”
original abstract†Abstracts here may not perfectly match originals, for a variety of technical and practical reasons. Some abstacts are truncated for my purposes here, if they are particularly long-winded and unhelpful. I occasionally add clarifying notes. And I make some minor corrections.
OBJECTIVE: To study prospectively the relations of insomnia to the development of anxiety disorders and depression in a population-based sample.
DESIGN: Cohort study based on data from 2 general health surveys of the adult population.
SETTING: Two general health surveys in the adult population in Nord-Trondelag County of Norway, HUNT-1 performed in 1984-6 and HUNT-2 in 1995-7 participants: participants without significant anxiety and depression in HUNT-1 were categorized according to the presence and absence of insomnia in the 2 surveys (N=25,130).
MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Anxiety disorders and depression in HUNT-2 were assessed by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and analyzed using multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, education, comorbid depression/anxiety, and history of insomnia. Anxiety disorders in HUNT-2 were significantly associated with the group with insomnia in HUNT-1 only (OR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.3), the group with insomnia in HUNT-2 only (OR 3.4; 95% CI, 3.1-3.8), as well as with the group with insomnia in both surveys (OR 4.9; 95% CI, 3.8-6.4). Depression in HUNT-2 was significantly associated with the group with insomnia in HUNT-2 only (OR 1.8; 95% CI, 1.6-2.0), but not with the groups with insomnia in HUNT-1 only or with insomnia in both surveys.
CONCLUSIONS: Only a state-like association between insomnia and depression was found. In addition to being a state marker, insomnia may be a trait marker for individuals at risk for developing anxiety disorders. Results are consistent with insomnia being a risk factor for the development of anxiety disorders.
related content
These three articles on PainScience.com cite Neckelmann 2007 as a source:
- PS Anxiety & Chronic Pain — A self-help guide for people who worry and hurt
- PS The Insomnia Guide — Serious insomnia-fighting advice from a veteran of the sleep wars
- PS Insomnia Until it Hurts — The role of sleep deprivation in chronic pain, especially muscle pain
