Although people with depression often feel that there is little reason for hope, new research suggests that the use of a sleep apnea treatment, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), may improve depressive symptoms in patients with sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, causing patients to awake briefly, often gasping and choking for air.  Loud snoring and excessive daytime exhaustion are frequently noted symptoms of the disorder.

The findings by Dr. Daniel J. Schwartz and Dr. Gillian Karatinos of The Sleep Center at University Community Hospital in Tampa were reported in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, Oct. 15, 2007.  They follow 2005 research by the same physicians that showed symptoms of depression often overlap with sleep apnea and called for screening people with depression for obstructive sleep apnea.  Likewise, Dr. Schwartz recommended screening people with obstructive sleep apnea for depression in the medical journal, Chest.

The earlier study followed 50 obstructive sleep apnea patients, 32 of whom displayed symptoms of depression.  A marked improvement was noted in standard depression test scores after CPAP in-home therapy was instituted.

In their latest study, Drs. Schwartz and Karatinos assessed patients after one year of CPAP and found that ongoing CPAP therapy is associated with sustained improvement in depressive symptoms.

Dr. Schwartz stated that the significance of the study’s findings was that symptoms that might otherwise be attributed to depression may at times be due to obstructive sleep apnea, which is easily treatable.  He said some of those symptoms included feelings of sadness, perceived decreases in self-confidence, being overly self-critical and even thoughts of suicide.

Dr. Schwartz told Reuters that it is possible that “At least some patients being treated with antidepressant medications, those whose symptoms are due to obstructive sleep apnea, might be better served with CPAP therapy.”

He and Dr. Karatinos concluded that the manner in which CPAP therapy lessens depressive symptoms remains “incompletely understood.”