Frequent Insufficient Sleep and Anxiety and Depressive Disorders Among U.S. Community Dwellers in 20 States, 2010

Objective

This investigation examined the association of anxiety or depressive disorder and frequent insufficient sleep.

Methods

Data were obtained from a 2010 telephone survey of a population-based sample of 113,936 adults in 20 states. Respondents were asked how often they did not get enough rest or sleep and if they had ever received a diagnosis of an anxiety or depressive disorder. Frequent insufficient sleep was defined as insufficient rest or sleep during ≥14 of the past 30 days.

Results

Frequent insufficient sleep was reported by 27.0% of the sample and was significantly more common (p<.05) among respondents who reported both anxiety and depressive disorders (48.6%), depressive disorders only (39.0%), or anxiety only (37.5%) than among adults who reported neither disorder (23.1%).

Conclusions

Frequent insufficient sleep is associated with depressive and anxiety disorders, and the odds of the sleep disorder are increased when both classes of psychiatric disorders are diagnosed.