4 ms·

The impact of sleep restriction on depression has been known for decades (though most of the research I'm seeing is from late 2010s on [1], this link says "from

The impact of sleep restriction on depression has been known for decades (though most of the research I'm seeing is from late 2010s on [1], this link says "from the beginning of the last century [2]) However, sleep deprivation as a treatment needs to be balanced with the health impact of sleep deprivation itself. A single night of lost sleep can have significantly detrimental impact on long-term health. Insulin response tanks, cortisol levels increase, HRV decreases, and this becomes a viscious cycle. In addition to increased beta-amyloid deposits associated with Alzheimers [3]. [1] https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2017/september/sleep-deprivation-is-an-effective-antidepressant-for-nearly-half-of-depressed-patients https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2017/septemb... [2] https://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/minerva-psychiatry/article.php?cod=R17Y2001N01A0059 https://www.minervamedica.it/en/journals/minerva-psychiatry/... [3] https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/sleep-deprivation-increases-alzheimers-protein https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/sleep-d...

jamestimmins 3y ago
Ironically, I've had several bouts of depression kicked off by pulling an all-nighter.
- codethief 3y ago
  Exactly, sleep deprivation can also cause a loss in willpower and thus move oneself closer to the depression/apathy end of the spectrum. Nothing new, really, but as it so happens I listened to Andrew Huberman's podcast on "willpower & tenacity" last night where he spends a good amount of time addressing this topic.
Aurornis 3y ago
Yes, and we've also known for a long time that the effects are temporary and unsustainable. It also doesn't work for everyone and can induce or worsen depression in others. It is interesting, though. There have been some attempts to use sleep deprivation to kick off antidepressant treatment. There have also been attempts to extend the effect by using a single night of sleep deprivation followed by a slightly altered sleep schedule. Many people can even benefit from simpler alterations of going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. A lot of people discover that if they adjust their sleep schedule to go to bed earlier and get early (enough to be awake by sunrise) they feel substantially better. Convincing people to actually do this and maintain it is often difficult. Certain medications with depression-altering properties might act through alterations of circadian rhythm. Lithium inhibits GSK-3, which has significant effects on circadian rhythm. Agomelatine, a newer antidepressant, has significant interactions with the Melatonin receptor. It should go without saying that medications like these are infinitely more sustainable than sleep deprivation.

jamestimmins 3y ago

Ironically, I've had several bouts of depression kicked off by pulling an all-nighter.

codethief 3y ago
Exactly, sleep deprivation can also cause a loss in willpower and thus move oneself closer to the depression/apathy end of the spectrum. Nothing new, really, but as it so happens I listened to Andrew Huberman's podcast on "willpower & tenacity" last night where he spends a good amount of time addressing this topic.

Aurornis 3y ago

Yes, and we've also known for a long time that the effects are temporary and unsustainable. It also doesn't work for everyone and can induce or worsen depression in others. It is interesting, though. There have been some attempts to use sleep deprivation to kick off antidepressant treatment. There have also been attempts to extend the effect by using a single night of sleep deprivation followed by a slightly altered sleep schedule. Many people can even benefit from simpler alterations of going to bed earlier and getting up earlier. A lot of people discover that if they adjust their sleep schedule to go to bed earlier and get early (enough to be awake by sunrise) they feel substantially better. Convincing people to actually do this and maintain it is often difficult. Certain medications with depression-altering properties might act through alterations of circadian rhythm. Lithium inhibits GSK-3, which has significant effects on circadian rhythm. Agomelatine, a newer antidepressant, has significant interactions with the Melatonin receptor. It should go without saying that medications like these are infinitely more sustainable than sleep deprivation.