Insomnia or hypersomnia

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Sleep disturbance is a core symptom of clinical depression. According to research, about 75 percent of depressed patients have symptoms of insomnia, and hypersomnia (excessive sleepiness) affects nearly half of depressed adults. A lot of people have sleep problems because they feel edgy and uneasy about life—this is a functional impairment, says Dr. Schwartz. If the feelings persist and get in the way of being productive, they interfere with life, he says. Not getting enough sleep can cause distress and increase the risk for suicide. “About 95 percent of my patients—whether they have depression or not—have sleep problems,” says Dr. Economou. Along with sleep aids and depression medication, these tips from the Centers for Disease Control are recommended for those suffering from insomnia. “Often people begin to negatively relate to sleep and condition themselves to dread going to bed,” says Dr. Economou. At certain levels, sleep aids and other medication are helpful as research shows that sleep deprivation can lead to psychosis. Check out this test you can take if you think you might have depression.