NEWS RELEASES
9/7/05 News Release
MEDIA CONTACT: Ruthann Richter at (650) 725-8047 ()
STANFORD STUDY EVALUATES COMBINED TREATMENT OF INSOMNIA AND DEPRESSION
STANFORD, Calif. – Getting a good night’s sleep may help improve your outlook on life, but it’s easier said than done if you suffer from both insomnia and depression.
In a first-of-its-kind study, a Stanford University School of Medicine researcher is exploring innovative ways to tackle the problem of these two disorders together. Rachel Manber, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, is seeking volunteers for a study of the benefits of combining treatment of psychotherapy for insomnia and medication for depression.
“Between 60 and 84 percent of patients with major depression are troubled by difficulty initiating and/or maintaining sleep,” said Manber. “Insomnia adversely affects the course of standard antidepressant therapy. Studies have repeatedly shown that poor sleep is associated with slower and lower rates of remission from depression.”
For the study, Manber hopes to enroll 58 participants who suffer from insomnia and depression, are between the ages of 18 and 75, are generally in good health and are not currently receiving treatment for either of the two disorders.
During the study, the qualified participants will receive free evaluations of their sleep, including an at-home, all-night sleep study. Participants will also receive 12 weeks of an FDA-approved antidepressant medication for depression (escitalopram oxalate or Lexapro) and will be randomized into receiving seven sessions of one of two forms of sleep-focused psychotherapies for insomnia.
Interested men and women should contact study coordinator Melanie San Pedro at msanpedro@stanford.edu or (650) 724-9774 for a free telephone screening.
The study is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.
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The Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the nation’s top 10 medical schools, integrating research, medical education, patient care and community service. For more news about the school, please visit http://mednews.stanford.edu. The medical school is part of Stanford Medicine, which includes Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. For information about all three, please visit http://stanfordmedicine.org/about/news.html.
