Sleep patterns in anxiety and depression associated with stress

Of 31 patients with anxiety and 44 with depression attending the Maudsley Stress Clinic, only one of the former and two of the latter did not suffer from sleep disturbance. Severity of impairment of five sleep factors was greater in depression than in anxiety, statistically significantly so in the case of delayed sleep onset ( p < 0.01), early morning walking ( p < 0.01) and impaired state on walking ( p < 0.05). The type of sleep disorder in these conditions has important implications for choice of treatment.