Sleep disorders linked to depression
Young people who suffer from sleep disorders are at an increased risk of developing depression in later life, according to new research.
Published in the journal Sleep, the study examined 300 twin pairs born in England and Wales between 1994 and 1996.
It discovered that 46 per cent of genetic influences on sleep were the same at age ten as at age eight.
Senior lecturer at Goldsmiths College in London’s department of psychology, Alice Gregory, said the study suggested genes were less important in explaining the association between sleep patterns and depression and that environmental influences were increasingly relevant.
"This could be because environmental experiences are becoming more relevant as children grow older and could therefore play a role in both sleep problems and depression," Ms Gregory explained.
According to figures from the NHS, around 15 per cent of people will experience severe depression at some point in their lives.
The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with depression
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