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Poor sleep has greater negative effect on women with bipolar disorder than men

Poor sleep quality was a predictor of worse mood outcome among women with bipolar disorder but not in men, according to study findings in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

To assess whether perception of poor sleep quality at baseline would affect mood outcomes among men and women differently, Erika F.H. Saunders, MD, of the Penn State College of Medicine, and colleagues evaluated 216 participants from the Prechter Longitudinal Study of Bipolar Disorder. Changes in mood were measured for 2 years. Study participants self-reported mood outcomes, which were determined by severity, frequency and variability of depressive or manic symptoms.

Erika F. H. Saunders

Poor sleep quality at baseline was a predictor of increased severity and frequency of depressive episodes (P < .001), severity and variability of mania (P < .05) and frequency of mixed episodes (P < .01) among women.

Poor sleep quality at baseline was a stronger predictor of mood outcomes than baseline depression among women, according to researchers.

Among men, baseline depression and neuroticism were stronger predictors of mood outcomes than poor sleep quality.

The study findings show that poor sleep quality affects mood among men and women with bipolar disorder differently, but does not explain why the difference exists.

“There is some suggestion from animal models that reproductive hormones affect the circadian rhythm system, which is a biological system that affects our need to sleep. It could be that reproductive hormones are biologically affecting sleep in women and therefore also affecting mood outcomes. Or, it could have more to do with the type of sleep that women are getting,” Saunders said in a press release. “We’ll have to do more investigation into the biological underpinnings to understand that better.” – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: Please see the full study for a list of all authors’ relevant financial disclosures.