Is It Just Insomnia?

If you're having trouble dozing at night, the resulting fatigue you
feel may be the least of your problems: Insomnia may often be a symptom
of a more serious mental disorder.

About a third of U.S. adults suffer from insomnia, yet less than 5%
see a physician to treat the problem. Perhaps they should, say Washington
State University (WSU) researchers who have found a link between insomnia
and mental illness, particularly depression. Of over two million U.S.
adults who visited their doctors in 1995 and 1996 due to insomnia, the
scientists report, 57.4% were diagnosed with non-sleep-related disorders
such as schizophrenia, and 31.7% were diagnosed with depression.

But while there is a correlation between insomnia and mental
illness, "it's the chicken and egg story," says Tracy Skaer, Pharm.D.,
assistant dean of the WSU College of Pharmacy. "We can't tell if insomnia
is the cause of the depression" or vice versa. Still, she says,
sleeplessness should not be taken lying down. "Insomnia could be a
symptom of a serious underlying problem. If it persists, people should
seek advice from a health care professional."