The relationship between mood and sleep in older adults Version: 1.0

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Maladaptive sleep-related beliefs and attitudes in co-morbid depression and sleep disturbance in older adults.

• IRAS ID

  263139

• Contact name

  elizabeth templeman

• Contact email

  elizabeth.templeman@hmc.ox.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Oxford/Clinical Trials and Research Governance

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 30 days

• Research summary

  Summary of Research
  This project aims to examine the relationship between depression and sleep difficulties in older adults. Research shows there is a link between depression and insomnia, with poor sleep being a risk factor for developing depression and vice versa. Despite this knowledge it is still unclear what is underlying this relationship. A large number of people who have treatment and recover from depression still have sleep difficulties and this can impact the likelihood of the reoccurrence of depressive symptoms.\n\nIf we can have a better understanding of the factors that impact sleep disturbance in those with depression, we can develop tailored treatments to target these specific beliefs and attitudes to help people recover and continue to stay well. \n\nWe are aiming to compare those with depression who sleep well to those who have sleep difficulties. We are looking to see whether there are differences in levels of both general negative beliefs and attitudes and sleep specific negative beliefs and attitudes. We will also look at general and sleep related negative beliefs and attitudes in those without depression or insomnia as a benchmark.\n

  Summary of Results
  Maladaptive sleep-related beliefs and attitudes in co-morbid depression and sleep disturbance in older adults.

  Study Objectives: The prevalence of insomnia is known to increase with age, and untreated sleep disturbance in Older Adults is associated with a variety of adverse health consequences. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying disturbed sleep in older adults with and without depression may support the further development of a transdiagnostic treatment. This research aimed to investigate differences in general and sleep-specific maladaptive beliefs between depressed older adults with and without comorbid insomnia.

  Methods: A total of 54 participants aged 65 and over completed a battery of cognitive measures including the Dysfunctional Beliefs and Attitudes about Sleep Short form (DBAS) and Dysfunctional Attitudes Scale (DAS). Participants were recruited into three groups based on scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI); depression comorbid with insomnia (n=17); depression without insomnia (n=16); and a healthy benchmark group (n=21).

  Results: Maladaptive sleep-related beliefs were higher in both depressed groups compared to a healthy benchmark group; there was some evidence that unhelpful sleep-related beliefs may be elevated in the depression with insomnia group; general worry clearly differentiated the groups.

  Conclusions: Results suggest heightened maladaptive sleep-related beliefs in comorbid depression with insomnia may be associated with mood-related negative cognitions and worry. Further research is needed to understand the underlying mechanisms involved in comorbid insomnia in this population.

• REC name

  South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  19/SC/0512

• Date of REC Opinion

  11 Oct 2019

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion