Depression is common among people with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Previous research found that people with OSA had a five fold risk of depression when compared with people without OSA. Now according to a recent study in which a survey of Depression questions was administered to people with OSA after 4-6 weeks of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy and again after 1 year, it was found that CPAP therapy was associated with significant improvements in symptoms of depression and that improvements were maintained at the one-year follow–up of treatment. The results suggest that CPAP therapy may significantly improve the symptoms of Depression in people with OSA.
JCSM vol 5(3)-Mon June 15, 2009