Article length: 572 words
Author: Z.Stambor
Journal: Monitor on Psychology. October 2005. Vol: 36, No.
9.
Pg. 12
.
Published by: American Psychological Association. 750 First
Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
Telephone: 800-374-2721; 202-336-5500. TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123.
www.apa.org
Online: http://www.apa.org/monitor/oct05/insomnia.html
Insomnia may lead the way to depression and not be the symptom
of depression as previously believed according to recent studies. Perlis and his
colleagues found that adults older than 60 with persistent insomnia were nearly
six times more likely to develop a first episode of major depression than were
seniors without insomnia. The original researchers interviewed 1,801
participants with depression. While both studies focused on seniors, Perlis
says, the findings for the new onset data are applicable to young adults and
middle-age people with chronic insomnia. Perlis and his colleagues aim to
recruit clinical psychologists to undergo training and certification to treat
insomnia.