Sleeping 18 hours a day depression
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The Link Between Sleeping 18 Hours a Day and Depression
Excessive Sleep Duration and Depression Symptoms
Excessive sleep, defined as sleeping more than 9 hours per day, has been significantly associated with symptoms of depression. A study analyzing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that individuals who slept 9 hours or more per day had higher odds of experiencing depressive symptoms compared to those who slept between 6 to 8 hours per day1. This suggests that both insufficient and excessive sleep durations are linked to higher depression rates.
Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Depression
While excessive sleep is associated with depression, sleep deprivation also plays a critical role. Research indicates that insufficient sleep, particularly less than 6 hours per night, is strongly correlated with increased depressive symptoms2. This is further supported by a study on training physicians, which found that reduced total sleep time and increased variability in sleep patterns were associated with more depressive symptoms3.
Sleep Interventions and Depression
Interventions aimed at modifying sleep patterns can have significant effects on depressive symptoms. A pilot study on young women with depressive symptoms showed that extending sleep opportunity by 90 minutes per night improved morning sleepiness, positive affect, and reduced depressive symptoms4. This highlights the potential benefits of sleep extension in managing depression.
Sleep Deprivation as a Treatment for Depression
Interestingly, sleep deprivation has been used as a rapid antidepressant treatment. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation can lead to an antidepressant response within hours in a significant proportion of depressed patients, although the effects are often temporary, with many patients relapsing after a recovery night5 6. This paradoxical effect underscores the complex relationship between sleep and depression.
Sleep Quality and Depression in Caregivers
Caregivers, who often experience severe sleep problems, are at a high risk of depression. A study on cancer caregivers found that poor sleep quality, habitual sleep efficiency, and daytime dysfunction were strongly correlated with higher depression scores8. This suggests that improving sleep quality could be a critical component in reducing depressive symptoms in caregivers.
Day-to-Day Sleep Variability and Mood
Day-to-day variability in sleep parameters also significantly impacts mood and depression. A study on young adult women found that poor-quality sleep and shorter total sleep time were associated with greater anhedonic depression and anxious arousal9. This indicates that consistent sleep patterns are crucial for mental health.
Conclusion
Both excessive sleep and sleep deprivation are closely linked to depression. While sleeping 18 hours a day is less common, it falls under the category of excessive sleep, which is associated with higher depression rates. Interventions that target both sleep duration and consistency hold promise for improving mental health outcomes. Understanding and managing sleep patterns can be a vital part of treating and preventing depression.
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Most relevant research papers on this topic
Association between Sleep Duration and Symptoms of Depression Aged between 18 and 49: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES Ⅶ) from 2016 to 2018
Short (6 h/day) sleep duration is more associated with symptoms of depression than long (9 h/day) sleep duration in the general Korean population aged 18-49.
Observational StudyWork hours, sleep sufficiency, and prevalence of depression among full-time employees: a community-based cross-sectional study.
Long work hours and sleep deprivation are primarily responsible for depression in full-time employees, highlighting the need for better sleep management in the workplace.
Observational Study
Highly CitedDay-to-day variability in sleep parameters and depression risk: a prospective cohort study of training physicians
Increased variability in sleep parameters, along with reduced total sleep time, is associated with increased depressive symptoms in training physicians.
Observational Study
Rigorous JournalFeasibility, acceptability and affective consequences of at‐home sleep extension in young women with depressive symptoms: A pilot study
Extended sleep opportunity is beneficial for young women with insufficient sleep and mood disruption, but may be difficult to maintain a consistent sleep schedule.
RCTRigorous JournalSleep deprivation in depression
Sleep deprivation effectively treats depression in 40-60% of patients, but relapses often occur, and understanding the neurobiological disturbances of depression is crucial for developing new, more rapidly acting antidepressants.
Highly CitedMeta-Analysis of Sleep Deprivation Effects on Patients With Depression
Sleep deprivation may serve as an effective antidepressant measure for patients with depression when lasted 7-14 days, while 7 days and more than 14 days worsen depression.
Meta-Analysis1086 Non-Linear Associations Between Depression and Sleep Duration in an International Sample of 16,997 Respondents
Short and long sleep duration are associated with higher levels of depression, with 7.5 hours of sleep per night being associated with the lowest depression scores.
Observational Study
Very Rigorous JournalSleep and Depression in Cancer Caregivers
Caregivers of terminally ill patients are at risk for clinical depression, with severe sleep problems being a significant contributor.
Observational StudyHighly CitedReciprocal dynamics between self-rated sleep and symptoms of depression and anxiety in young adult women: a 14-day diary study.
Poor sleep quality and anhedonic depression are linked to increased insomnia, depression, and anxiety in young adult women.
Observational StudyRigorous JournalTriple chronotherapy for the rapid treatment and maintenance of response in depressed outpatients: a feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial
Triple chronotherapy significantly reduced depressive symptoms in out-patients after 1 week and maintained this improvement for 26 weeks.
RCT