Preexisting Depression and Daytime Sleepiness in Women and Men.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Sleep problems can persist following the treatment of depression and remission of symptoms. The extent to which having a previous history of depression may be associated with current daytime sleepiness is largely unknown.

METHODS:

Data were obtained from the spring 2017 American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) survey (92 institutions) which assessed self-reported health in U.S. college students (n = 41,670). Among the sample, 93.5% were 18-24 year of age, and 69.6% women. Logistic regression estimated the association between reported prior lifetime diagnosis of depression and daytime sleepiness from the past 7 days, while adjusting for depressive symptoms and antidepressant use from the past year. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models stratified by gender were performed.

RESULTS:

Among those who reported problems with sleepiness, 31.6% women and 19.4% men had a preexisting depression diagnosis. Individuals with preexisting depression were more likely than those without this diagnosis to report sleepiness problems (women: OR = 1.4, CI = 1.3-1.6, p < .001; men: OR = 1.2, CI = 1.0-1.4, p < .01). However, this association differed significantly by gender, with women with a preexisting depression diagnosis having a 13.0% greater likelihood of sleepiness compared to men.

CONCLUSIONS:

Those with a preexisting depression diagnosis, and specifically women, may be at risk for daytime sleepiness even in the absence of current depressive mood-related symptoms. Given that many individuals are at risk for daytime sleepiness, mental health initiatives, including those on college campuses, should incorporate sleep hygiene within their programming.

• Authors: Irene Gonsalvez, Jason J Li, Courtney Stevens, Justin A Chen, Cindy H Liu
• Journal: Behavioral sleep medicine (Behav Sleep Med) 2022 Jul-Aug Vol. 20 Issue 4 Pg. 380-392 ISSN: 1540-2010 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34003712 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Aged
• Depression (complications)
• Disorders of Excessive Somnolence (epidemiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Sleepiness
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Wakefulness