Sleep correlates of depression and anxiety in an elderly Asian population

Background: Research looking at the association between sleep and psychiatric symptoms in elderly Asian populations is lacking. The present study examines the sleep correlates of depression and anxiety in a sample of cognitively healthy older adults. Methods: The Geriatric Depression Scale, Geriatric Anxiety Inventory, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index were administered to a community sample of elderly participants (n = 107; 81 women; M-age = 71.3 years, SD = 5.7) Results: Geriatric Depression Scale and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory scores are both significantly correlated with sleep disturbance. Geriatric Depression Scale scores are uniquely associated with daytime dysfunction, and Geriatric Anxiety Inventory scores are uniquely associated with perceived sleep quality, sleep latency, and global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores. Conclusions: Depression and anxiety in a cohort of elderly Asian subjects are associated with a number of sleep-related issues; both are related to a somewhat different profile of sleep problems.