Sleep in Mood Disorders

Sleep disturbances are among the most common symptoms in patients with acute episodes of mood disorders, and patients with mood disorders exhibit higher rates of sleep disturbances than the general population. Insomnia and hypersomnia are associated with an increased risk for the development or recurrence of mood disorders and increased severity of psychiatric symptoms. Primary sleep disorders are also associated with an increased incidence of depression. Sleep electroencephalogram recordings have identified objective abnormalities associated with mood disorders, providing insight into the neurobiologic relationships between mood and sleep. Future studies will continue to investigate this association, and potentially improve the treatment of both sleep and mood disorders.