Insomnia ‘could lead to depression’
Sleep-related problems could lead to psychiatric illnesses such as depression, it has been suggested.
Traditionally, it has been assumed that problems such as insomnia in people with a psychiatric disorder are a result of their illness, but this theory is now being turned around.
Some scientists now believe that sleep disorders may lead people to behave in ways that doctors mistake as sleep problems.
Robert Stickgold, a sleep researcher at Harvard University, said: "It was just so easy to say about a patient, well, he’s depressed or schizophrenic, of course he’s not sleeping well – and never to ask whether there could be a causal relationship the other way."
Psychologist Matt Walker, of the University of California, described the theory as "very frightening".
He suggested that it was vital to know whether three per cent, five per cent or 50 per cent of people diagnosed with psychiatric problems could be simply suffering from sleep disorders.
According to NHS statistics, around 15 per cent of people will suffer a period of severe depression at some point in their lives.
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