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Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Connection Between Sleep Disorders and Cognitive Symptoms in Depression
Published on: April 26, 2024
Testing the reciprocal relationship between depressive symptoms and insomnia.
Robert J Zhou1, Brooklynn Bailey1, Daniel R Strunk1
1Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
Depressive symptoms worsen insomnia, but insomnia does not worsen depressive symptoms. This study highlights the unidirectional impact of depression on sleep disturbances, suggesting targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Sleep Medicine
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The relationship between sleep difficulties and emotional disorders is acknowledged but not fully understood.
- The COVID-19 pandemic offered a unique context to study sleep and psychological symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bidirectional relationship between insomnia and depressive symptoms.
- To analyze symptom changes over one year during the pandemic.
Main Methods:
- 1200 adults were followed for one year using online data collection.
- Insomnia and depressive symptoms were assessed at eight time points.
- A random intercept cross-lagged panel model analyzed within-person relationships.
Main Results:
- Depressive symptoms significantly predicted subsequent increases in insomnia symptoms.
- Insomnia symptoms did not predict subsequent changes in depressive symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Depressive symptoms impact insomnia, but not vice versa.
- Findings suggest depression is a key target for managing insomnia, and vice versa.
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