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Background : College students are at increased risk for sleep disorders, including insomnia disorder and obtaining less than 6.5 hr of sleep per night by choice, or behaviorally induced insufficient sleep syndrome (BIISS). These disorders can have deleterious daytime consequences, including depression. This study aims to establish the prevalence of insomnia and BIISS disorders and examine associations of insomnia and BIISS with other sleep characteristics and depression. Methods : A subset of data from Spit for Science, a college risk behaviors and health study ( n = 989) was used. Insomnia and BIISS were defined as mutually exclusive disorders, based on diagnostic criteria. Results : A majority (68%) of students were categorized as normal sleepers, followed by insomnia (22%), and BIISS (10%). Sleep duration was comparable between BIISS and insomnia, while daytime sleepiness was significantly higher in BIISS, and sleep latency was longer in insomnia ( m = 44 vs. m = 13 min). Insomnia was associated with the highest depression symptoms, followed by BIISS, and normal sleep, controlling for demographics. Insomnia was associated with twice the risk of moderate or higher depression compared to normal sleep (CI: 1.60, 2.70, p < .001). Conclusion : These findings highlight the sleep difficulties endemic to college populations. Further, this study provides the first prevalence estimation of BIISS in college students and the first comparison of insomnia and BIISS on sleep characteristics and depressive symptoms. This study underscores the importance of targeted screening and intervention to improve both sleep and depression in this vulnerable population.

Objective: This paper examines the prevalence and severity of comorbid pain, insomnia, and depression in a population sample of older adults with osteoarthritis (OA), and assesses characteristics distinguishing participants from non-participants in a randomized clinical trial to improve pain and sleep., Methods: Potential subjects were Group Health Cooperative members, aged 60+, who had an electronic medical record OA diagnosis in the prior 3 years. Participants were recruited using a low-cost mailed survey. Fifty-five percent of surveys were completed and returned (n=3321). Persons with Grade II-IV arthritis pain on the Graded Chronic Pain Scale and reporting sleep difficulties 3+ nights/week during the past month with daytime dysfunction (n=834) were invited to participate in one of three group-format behavioral self-management interventions. A total of 367 participants attended the first group class., Results: One-third (36.4%) of survey respondents had clinically elevated levels of OA pain and insomnia. Group participants and non-participants did not differ in ratings of pain severity, sleep disturbance, depression, or receipt of prescription medications for pain or sleep. Participants were significantly older (p<.001) and more likely to be retired (p<.001) than subjects who were eligible to participate but did not., Conclusion: Participation in a group-format behavioral intervention for pain and insomnia was not related to participant clinical characteristics, but only to factors associated with ability to attend a daytime class (age and retirement status). We conclude that population-based recruitment yielded randomized trial participants who are clinically generalizable to the population of OA patients with significant pain and insomnia., (2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We examined the relationship between social discomfort and depression in a sample of 89 adults with leg amputations at two outpatient clinics. It was hypothesized that individuals who reported being uncomfortable with social contacts involving acknowledgement of their amputation or prosthesis were more prone to depression than other patients. A set of questions addressing different aspects of social discomfort demonstrated internal consistency and were used as a scale. Social discomfort was significantly correlated with scores on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale depression scale (r = .41). Multiple regression analysis showed that social discomfort was a significant independent predictor of depression, after holding constant the effects of age, gender, social support, time since amputation, reason for amputation, and perceived health. These data indicate that health care professionals should view the expression of social discomfort by amputee patients as a possible "marker" for depression. Further studies are planned to develop and validate an expanded social discomfort scale.