Sleep apnea often mistaken for depression, study reveals

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Extreme sadness, feeling of hopelessness, low self-extreme and insomnia are some of the symptoms of depression and while it is one of the most common mental condition in people, a new study suggests experts may be mistaken as the individual may just be experiencing sleep apnea.

Medical News Today reports that more than 70 percent of sleep apnea patients have experienced symptoms of depression before they were diagnosed. The study, which was published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine and conducted in Australia, finds there is a big possibility that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) will be misdiagnosed as depression. Furthermore, the researchers have also discovered that once OSA is treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the depressive symptoms go away.

OSA is a disorder wherein patients briefly stop breathing during sleep, usually manifested by chronic snoring. This disorder has been linked to the development of heart problems, stroke, high blood pressure and diabetes. Previous studies have also suggested that if OSA is left untreated, depression worsens.

Senior author David Hillman from the University of Western Australia states that the findings will be able to highlight the importance of correctly diagnosing and treating sleep apnea, NDTV Health writes. Hillman adds that the findings may also guide experts in screening patients and likewise improve their condition, including removal of suicidal ideation.

The researchers evaluated about 426 patients, with an average age of 52, who are suspected to have sleep apnea. More than 290 patients were diagnosed with OSA and have been prescribed to undergo CPAP therapy for five hours every night. After three months of follow-up, 228 participants experienced less depressive symptoms; 41 of these patients who religiously followed the therapy cited they no longer have any suicidal thought, while nine stated otherwise.

Diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea is based on sleep study analysis through polysomnography, a machine that records brain waves, oxygen levels, breathing, extremity movements, and heart rate and evaluation of symptoms like daytime sleepiness or fatigue, New York City Today states.

Almost 25 million adult Americans suffer from sleep apnea, affecting behavioral and cognitive capabilities. This condition affects one in every two male adults and one out of five female adults. Besides these side effects, patients are also known to have reduced attentiveness, increased moodiness, and unexplainable belligerence.

However, as the study is limited, the researchers say bigger studies must be conducted to verify if CPAP therapy is a reliable sleep apnea and depression treatment.