Sleep disorder patients at higher depression risk

Washington, Sept 22 : A new study has found that patients who suffer from a range of ear, nose, and throat-related health problems are more likely to suffer from a greater prevalence of depression than the general population.

In the study, researchers analyzed the health of 12,516 distinct otolaryngology patients.

They found that 30 percent of these patients either had been diagnosed with depressive illness or took antidepressants.

The study further broke down different otolaryngologic diagnoses to determine which conditions had the highest co-morbidity with depression.

Researchers found that patients diagnosed with sleep apnea had the highest levels of depression and use of antidepressant medications.

The study could help clinicians diagnose and treat co-morbid depressive and otolaryngolic symptoms in patients.

The study has been presented at the 2008 American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting and OTO EXPO in Chicago, IL.

ANI