Depression and sleep apnea link

Treatment for sleep apnea with CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) has been shown by a recent study to improve depressive symptoms, such as tiredness, moodiness, poor concentration, daytime somnolence, and anhedonia (loss of interest in normally enjoyable activities). The results imply that symptoms for depression and sleep apnea can often be confused which should encourage physicians to screen for both conditions. Sleep apnea causes snoring and cessation of breathing that results in wakening due to obstruction of the airway from the relaxed muscles in the throat.

Source: summary of medical news story as reported by NY Times

Related Disease Topics:

• Sleep apnea
• Depression

Related Symptom Topics:

• Depressive symptoms
• Tiredness
• Moodiness
• Poor concentration
• Daytime somnolence
• Anhedonia
• Loss of interest
• Snoring
• Cessation of breathing
• Wakening

Article Source Details

About: Depression and sleep apnea link

Date: 20 September 2005

Source: NY Times

Author: Nicholas Bakalar

URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/20/health/psychology/20sleep.html

Related Medical Topics

This summary article refers to the following medical categories:

• Cause of depressive symptoms
• Cause of tiredness
• Cause of moodiness
• Cause of poor concentration
• Cause of daytime somnolence
• Cause of anhedonia
• Cause of loss of interest
• Cause of snoring
• Cause of cessation of breathing
• Cause of wakening
• Cause of sleep apnea
• Cause of obstructive sleep apnea
• Cause of depression
• Risk and tiredness
• Risk and moodiness
• Risk and poor concentration
• Risk and daytime somnolence
• Risk and anhedonia
• Risk and loss of interest
• Risk and snoring
• Risk and cessation of breathing
• Risk and wakening
• Risk and sleep apnea
• Risk and obstructive sleep apnea
• Risk and depression
• Research
• Research and depression
• Research and obstructive sleep apnea
• Research and sleep apnea
• Research and depressive symptoms
• Undiagnosed
• Undiagnosed and depression
• Undiagnosed and sleep apnea
• Undiagnosed and obstructive sleep apnea
• Undiagnosed and depressive symptoms

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