Anxiety and depression in the aged with sleep disturbances

Eighty-one men and women, ages 61-81, with persistent complaints of sleep disturbance, who volunteered for a double-blind study of experimental hypnotic medication, were assessed using the Zung self-rating anxiety and depression scales. Levels of depression (x̄ = 48.6, SD = 9.1) in our group were no higher than levels previously reported for the normal aged, a finding inconsistent with reports of higher depression in younger and middle-aged populations with sleep disturbance. Levels of anxiety (x̄ = 45.3, SD = 7.5) were significantly elevated with respect to normative values for the aged. The possible relationship of heightened autonomic nervous system activity to complaints of sleep disturbance is discussed.