N. Breslau et al., SLEEP DISTURBANCE AND PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS - A LONGITUDINAL EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY OF YOUNG-ADULTS, Biological psychiatry, 39(6), 1996, pp. 411-418
In a longitudinal epidemiological study of young adults, we estimated
the association between sleep disturbance and psychiatric disorders, c
ross-sectionally and prospectively. A random sample of 1200 was drawn
from all 21-30-year-old members of a large health maintenance organiza
tion (HMO) in Michigan; 1007 were interviewed in 1989 and 979 were rei
ntewiewed in 1992. Lifetime prevalence of insomnia alone was 16.6%, of
hypersomnia alone, 8.2%, and of insomnia plus hypersomnia, 8%. The ge
nder-adjusted relative risk for new onset of major depression during t
he follow-up period in persons with history of insomnia at baseline wa
s 4.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2-7.0) and in persons with basel
ine history of hypersomnia, 2.9 (95% CI 1.5-5.6). When history of othe
r prior depressive symptoms (e.g., psychomotor retardation or agitatio
n, suicidal ideation) was controlled for, prior insomnia remained a si
gnificant predictor of subsequent major depression. complaints of 2 we
eks or more of insomnia nearly every night might be a useful marker of
subsequent onset of major depression.