Emotional Abuse in Childhood May Disrupt Sleep Decades Later Older adults who were insulted, intimidated by parents at risk for sleep problems, study finds

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FRIDAY, June 10 (HealthDay News) -- Emotional abuse in childhood can lead to sleep disruption in old age, a new study finds.

In analyzing nearly 900 adults ageD 60 and older, researchers found that seniors who were emotionally abused by their parents decades earlier were at greater risk for poor sleep quality years later.

"A negative early attachment continues to exert an influence on our well-being decades later through an accumulation of stressful interpersonal experiences across our lives," study author Cecilia Y. M. Poon, said in a news release from the Gerontological Society of America. "The impact of abuse stays in the system. Emotional trauma may limit a person's ability to fend for themselves emotionally and successfully navigate the social world."

The study included 877 adults who answered questions about their childhood in a 1995 midlife development survey. A decade later, these participants were re-questioned about their relationships, emotional distress and quality of sleep, including how often within the past month they had trouble falling or remaining asleep or felt tired regardless of how much sleep they got.

Researchers found those who endured early emotional abuse (not physical abuse or emotional neglect) by their parents reported a higher number of problems sleeping in old age.

Emotional abuse included insults, swearing, silent treatment, intimidation, or threats of violence or physical abuse.

Depression – Symptoms, Causes and Treatment by SOL DUNG on JUNE 17, 2011

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Depression is a state of mind which is characterized by a negative sense of inadequacy and a visual lack of activity. It is a listed mental disorder which includes altered mood. It may occur daily associated with diminished interest or pleasure in most or all of the activities. Depression is a major cause of morbidity worldwide. It is often associated with unemployment and poverty. It can increase the risks for developing coronary artery disease, HIV, asthma, and some other medical illnesses. It is a normal response to loss or misfortune. It affects people of every color, race, economic status, or age; however, it does seem to affect more females than males during adolescence and adulthood but the reason for this female predominance is unclear. It can run in families, and usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30.

Symptoms

Symptoms can include sadness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy, change in weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness, thoughts of death or suicide, dramatic change in appetite, fatigue and lack of energy, feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and inappropriate guilt, extreme difficulty concentrating, agitation, restlessness, and irritability, inactivity and withdrawal from usual activities, feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.

Causes

The understanding of the nature and causes of depression has evolved over the centuries, though many aspects of depression remain incompletely understood and are the subject of discussion and research. Psychological, psycho-social, evolutionary and biological causes have been proposed. It is not always clear which factors are causes or which are effects of depression; however, depressed persons who are able to make corrections in their thinking patterns often show improved mood and self-esteem. Before diagnosing a major depressive disorder, a doctor generally performs a medical examination and selected investigations to rule out other causes of symptoms. Moreover, it often assumes various disguises, which causes depression to be frequently under diagnosed.

Depression may be brought on by: alcohol or drug abuse, childhood events like abuse or neglect, chronic stress, death of a friend or relative, disappointment at home, work, or school (in teens, this may be breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, failing a class, or parents divorcing), drugs such as sedatives and high blood pressure medications, medical conditions such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), cancer, or hepatitis, nutritional deficiencies (such as a lack of foliate and omega-3 fatty acids), overly negative thoughts about one’s self and life, self blame, and ineffective social problem solving skills, prolonged pain or having a major illness, sleeping problems, social isolation (common in the elderly), and empathy to another person. Depression affects not only the individual but also those around them, their families, their colleagues and friends and causes abnormal functioning and pain.

Treatment

Treatment will vary according to the cause and severity of your depressive symptoms, as well as your personal preference. Treatment for depression can include talk therapy, medication, or a combination of both. Treatment in the hospital may be needed if you have other medical conditions that could affect your treatment or if you’re at high risk of suicide. Treatment can help you return to your “normal” self, enjoying life. Treatment can help prevent depression from coming back. Treatment is essential and support from doctors, therapy groups and friends and family, a necessity.

The three most common treatments for depression are psychotherapy, medication, and electro-convulsive therapy. Psychotherapy is the treatment of choice for people under 18, while electro-convulsive therapy is only used as a last resort. Antidepressant medication treatment is usually continued for 16 to 20 weeks after remission, to minimize the chance of recurrence.