Can Depression Cause Sleep Apnea?

The link between depression, a mood disorder consisting of prolonged sadness, reduced self-worth, changes in sleep patterns and other negative symptoms, has an unclear link with sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a disorder in which breathing is repeatedly disrupted during sleep, usually unnoticed by the victim, which can result in constant fatigue during the day. Several studies have researched the connection between these disorders, and though the findings are unclear, there appears to be a connection.

Prevalence of Sleep Apnea in Depression

• Those suffering from depression are five times more likely than the general population to experience sleep apnea.

Cause and Effect

• While those with depression are more likely to experience sleep apnea, the cause and effect is unclear. Both disorders could share a similar cause, depression could cause sleep apnea, or sleep apnea could cause depression. Researchers have been unable to find a definitive answer.

Treating Sleep Apnea

• The treatment of sleep apnea has been found to reduce symptoms of depression.

Shared Symptoms

• Sleep apnea and depression share many symptoms, such as a change in sleep patterns, fatigue and irritability. Researchers suspect that physicians may simply confuse the two disorders and over-diagnose them together.

Treatment

• Talk therapy and medication have high success rates treating depression, while those with sleep apnea most commonly wear a device to open their airway. Using any of these options will be likely to reduce symptoms of both disorders.