Longitudinal associations of hypersomnolence and depression in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study

- The longitudinal impact of hypersomnolence in mood disorders requires clarification.
- Subjective daytime sleepiness increases the odds of development of depression.
- Objective sleep propensity is paradoxically marginally protective against depression.

BackgroundHypersomnolence is common in depression, however longitudinal associations of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), long habitual sleep duration, and objective sleep propensity with depressive symptomatology are not well established.MethodsData from adults participating in the Wisconsin Sleep Cohort Study who had multiple assessments at 4-year intervals were utilized in analyses. Conditional (intrasubject) logistic regression estimated the likelihood of development of depression and three primary hypersomnolence measures: subjective EDS [Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) >10], habitual sleep duration ≥9 h/day, and increased physiological sleep propensity [multiple sleep latency test (MSLT) mean sleep latency <8 min].ResultsAfter adjusting for all covariates, the odds for development of depression were significantly increased 1.67-fold (95% CI 1.02-2.73, p=0.04) in participants who also developed subjective EDS. However, development of increased physiological sleep propensity on the MSLT was associated with a trend towards reduced odds for development of depression (odds ratio 0.50, 95% CI 0.24-1.06, p=0.07). No significant longitudinal association between excessive sleep duration and depression was observed.LimitationsDepression was not verified by psychiatric interview and an objective measure of sleep duration was not utilized.ConclusionsOur results demonstrate a significant longitudinal association between increased subjective EDS and depression. However, increased physiological sleep propensity on the MSLT was paradoxically marginally protective against the development of depression. Further research is indicated to determine the mechanism underling divergent effects of various aspects of hypersomnolence on the course of mood disorders.