Link Between Insomnia And Depression In Young Adults - New Study In The Journal SLEEP

A study published in April 1 issue of the journal SLEEP confirms the persistent nature of insomnia and increased risk of subsequent depression among individuals with insomnia.

The study, conducted by Jules Angst, MD, of Zurich University Psychiatric Hospital in Switzerland, focused on 591 young adults, whose psychiatric, physical, and sleep symptoms were assessed with six interviews spanning 20 years. Four duration-based subtypes of insomnia were distinguished: one-month insomnia associated with significant distress, two-to-three-week insomnia, recurrent brief insomnia, and occasional brief insomnia.

According to results, the annual prevalence of one-month insomnia increased gradually over time, with a cumulative prevalence rate of 20 percent and a greater than two-fold risk among women. In 40 percent of subjects, insomnia developed into more chronic forms over time. Insomnia either with or without comorbid depression was highly stable over time. Insomnia lasting two weeks or longer predicted major depressive episodes and major depressive disorder at subsequent interviews. Seventeen to 50 percent of subjects with insomnia lasting two weeks or longer developed a major depressive episode in a later interview. " Pure " insomnia and " pure " depression were not longitudinally related to each other, whereas insomnia comorbid with depression was longitudinally related to both.

" We used to think that insomnia was most often just a symptom of depression. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that insomnia isn't just a symptom of depression, but that it may actually precede depression. In other words, people who have insomnia but no depression are at increased risk for later developing depression. This study adds to our knowledge by including a much longer follow-up period than most previous studies, " said Daniel J. Buysse, MD, of the University of Pittsburgh, lead author of paper. " We were also able to look separately at insomnia alone, depression alone, and combined insomnia-depression. The results show that insomnia seems to be followed by depression more consistently than other way around. In addition, we found that insomnia tended to be a chronic problem that gets more persistent over time, whereas depression was a more intermittent problem. "

Insomnia is a classification of sleep disorders in which a person has trouble falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up too early. It's most commonly reported sleep disorder. About 30 percent of adults have symptoms of insomnia. It's more common among elderly people and women.

It is recommended that adults get between seven and eight hours of nightly sleep.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine ( AASM ) offers the following tips on how to get a good night's sleep:

- Follow a consistent bedtime routine. - Establish a relaxing setting at bedtime. - Get a full night's sleep every night. - Avoid foods or drinks that contain caffeine, as well as any medicine that has a stimulant, prior to bedtime. - Do not bring your worries to bed with you. - Do not go to bed hungry, but do not eat a big meal before bedtime either. - Avoid any rigorous exercise within six hours of your bedtime. - Make your bedroom quiet, dark and a little bit cool. - Get up at same time every morning.

Those who suspect that they might be suffering from insomnia, or another sleep disorder, are encouraged to consult with their primary care physician or a sleep specialist.

More information about insomnia is available from AASM at http: //www. SleepEducation. com/Disorder. aspx? id=6.

SLEEP is official journal of Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC, a joint venture of the AASM and Sleep Research Society.

SleepEducation. com, a patient education Web site created by the AASM, provides information about various sleep disorders, the forms of treatment available, recent news on topic of sleep, sleep studies that have been conducted and a listing of sleep facilities.

SLEEP 2008 , 22nd Annual Meeting of Associated Professional Sleep Societies and world's largest annual gathering of sleep scientists and sleep medicine professionals, will take place in Baltimore, Maryland, from June 9-12, 2008. SLEEP 2008 will bring together an international body of 5, 000 leading researchers and clinicians, who'll present and discuss over 1, 100 new findings and medical developments related to sleep and sleep disorders. The deadline to register is Friday, May 30, 2008. Contact Jim Arcuri at ( 708 ) 492-0930, ext. 9317, or jarcuri@aasmnet. org for more information or to register for a free press pass. More details, including program schedule and a list of invited lecturers, are available at http: //www. SleepMeeting. org.

http: //www. journalsleep

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Do you know Propecia?

Propecia: uses

Propecia is used to shrink an enlarged prostate ( benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH ) in adult men. It may be used alone or taken in combination with other medications to reduce symptoms of BPH and may also reduce the need for surgery.

Propecia may improve symptoms of BPH and provide benefits such as decreased urge to urinate, better urine flow with less straining, less of a feeling that the bladder is not completely emptied, and decreased nighttime urination.

Propecia works by decreasing amount of a natural body hormone ( DHT ) that causes growth of prostate.

Women and children shouldn't use this medication.

Propecia: how to use

Read Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before we start taking Propecia and each time we get a refill. If we have any questions regarding information, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take Propecia by mouth, with or without food, usually once a day, or as directed by your doctor.

If tablet is crushed or broken, it shouldn't be handled by a woman who is pregnant or by a woman who may become pregnant ( see also Precautions section ) .

Use Propecia regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. Remember to use it at the same time each day. Do not stop taking Propecia without consulting your doctor.

It may take 6-12 months to notice a benefit.

Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

Propecia: side effects

Decreased sexual ability/desire may occur while use Propecia. In some men, Propecia can decrease amount of semen released during sex. This is harmless. Propecia may also increase hair growth. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed Propecia because he or she has judged that benefit to we is greater than risk of side effects. Many people using Propecia don't have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur:

A very serious allergic reaction to Propecia is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include:

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If we notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Propecia: precautions

Before taking Propecia, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.

Before using Propecia, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

Propecia shouldn't be used in children.

The drug can be absorbed through the skin. If the film coating of tablet has been broken or the tablet crushed, it shouldn't be handled by a woman who is pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Exposing a developing male infant to Propecia can result in abnormalities of genitals.

Propecia isn't recommended for use in women and mustn't be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think we may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately.

Because Propecia isn't intended for use in women, it's not known if Propecia passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

Propecia: interactions

Your healthcare professionals ( e. g. , doctor or pharmacist ) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for it. Don't start, stop or change dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

Before using Propecia, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products we may use.

Propecia can affect the results of blood test used to detect prostate cancer ( prostatic-specific antigen or PSA levels ) . Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know we use this drug.

This document doesn't contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using Propecia, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all products we use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Propecia: overdose

If overdose of Propecia is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. US residents can call US national poison hotline at 1-800-222-1222. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

Propecia: notes

Don't share Propecia with others.

Laboratory and/or medical tests ( e. g. , prostate exams, PSA levels ) should be performed periodically to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Consult your doctor for more details.

Keep all appointments with your doctor and laboratory. We should have a complete physical examination. Follow your doctor's instructions for examining your breasts and testicles, and report any lumps immediately.

Although early improvement is often seen, at least 6 to 12 months of therapy may be necessary in some patients to assess whether or not a benefit has occurred. Therefore, it's important to keep regular doctor appointments and get blood tests as scheduled to make sure Propecia is working.

Many men are born with condition Propecia mimics ( prostate glands that are smaller than usual ) and lead normal lives with normal sex drives.

Propecia: missed dose

If we miss a dose Propecia, take it as soon as we remember. If it's near time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double dose of Propecia to catch up.

Propecia: storage

Store US product at room temperature below 86 degrees F ( 30 degrees C ) away from light and moisture in a tightly closed container.

Store Canadian product at room temperature between 59 to 86 degrees F ( 15 to 30 degrees C ) away from light and moisture in a tightly closed container.

Do not store Propecia in the bathroom. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Properly discard Propecia when it's expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Propecia with EU shipping