Sleep Complaints Among Adults With Major Depressive Episode Are Associated With Increased Risk of Incident Psychiatric Disorders: Results From a Population-Based 3-Year Prospective Study

Objective: Sleep alterations have been suggested as a cause and consequence of psychiatric disorders. In this context, we evaluated the incidence of psychiatric disorders following sleep complaints in adults with major depressive episode (MDE). Methods: In a large, nationally representative 3-year prospective survey, the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions conducted in 2001-2002 ( Wave 1) and 2004-2005 (Wave 2), we used structural equation modeling to examine shared and specific effects of trouble falling asleep, early morning awakening, and hypersomnia on incidence of common comorbid DSM-IV disorders among patients with MDE. The analyses adjusted for sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, including sedative or tranquilizer use. Results: Among participants with MDE at Wave 1, 3-year incidence rates were dysthymia = 2.9%, general anxiety disorder = 8.2%, panic disorder = 3.4%, social anxiety disorder = 4.0%, specific phobia = 3.0%, alcohol use disorder = 8.1%, nicotine dependence = 6.2%, cannabis use disorder = 2.7%, and other drug use disorder = 4.9%. Participants with 3-year incident psychiatric disorders commonly had trouble falling asleep (67.6% for cannabis use disorder to 76.4% for panic disorder), early morning awakening (43.3% for cannabis use disorder to 55.6% for dysthymia), and hypersomnia (51.3% for nicotine use disorder to 72.1% for social anxiety disorder). The effects of the incident general psychopathology factor, representing mechanisms related to incidence of all psychiatric disorders, were exerted almost exclusively through a factor representing shared effect across all sleep complaints. Sleep complaints were associated with increased risk of incident psychiatric disorders, independent of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Conclusions: These findings suggest that sleep complaints should be clinically assessed in all psychiatric disorders, as these prodromal symptoms might constitute transdiagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for prevention.