Depression At Night

Depression at night is a common issue which refers to the experience of feeling depressed or experiencing depressive symptoms during the nighttime hours. This can make it difficult to fall asleep or get restful sleep, which can further exacerbate feelings of depression and create a vicious cycle.

What is Depression at Night?

Nighttime depression is a specific type of depression that can be particularly challenging to manage. It is characterized by strong feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair during the evening or nighttime hours.

This can make it difficult for some individuals to fall or stay asleep, intensifying their depression and leading to feelings of fatigue, irritability, and difficulty concentrating during the day.

Several factors may contribute to nighttime depression, including changes in circadian rhythms, hormonal imbalances, and an increase in negative thoughts and emotions that tend to arise at night. As a result, nighttime depression can significantly impact daily functioning and quality of life.

Read More About Depression Here

Case Example

Richard, a software engineer hailing from a small town, wanted to move to the big city for better professional opportunities. But after his father’s sudden death, he had to support his family and continue with his job.

He took on more projects and worked harder; but, at the end of the day, particularly near bedtime, he felt sleepless and irritable—provoked by ruminating thoughts of his unfulfilled dreams.

Throughout the day, no negative thought haunted him. However, as soon as night came and he tried to sleep, the same worries plagued him. He spent many sleepless nights and this began impacting his well-being in daily life.

Case Analysis

It is evident from the present case that Richard displays signs of insomnia, low mood, poor appetite, negative and distorted thoughts, and feelings of hopelessness at night, particularly before bedtime. This is a clear indication that he suffers from nighttime depression.

Symptoms of Depression at Night

Depression at night is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness or a loss of interest. According to DSM-5 [mfn] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016). Table 9, DSM-IV to DSM-5 Major Depressive Episode/Disorder Comparison. Nih.gov; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519712/table/ch3.t5/ [/mfn] , these depressive symptoms must last for at least two weeks to qualify for a medical diagnosis.

However, other symptoms [mfn] McCarter T. (2008). Depression overview. American health & drug benefits, 1(3), 44–51. [/mfn] can also be present during nighttime depression, which may include:

• Insomnia [mfn] Roth T. (2007). Insomnia: definition, prevalence, etiology, and consequences. Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 3(5 Suppl), S7–S10. [/mfn] or hypersomnia
• Significant weight loss or gain
• Changes in appetite
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Worthlessness [mfn] Harrison, P., Lawrence, A. J., Wang, S., Liu, S., Xie, G., Yang, X., & Zahn, R. (2022). The Psychopathology of Worthlessness in Depression. Frontiers in psychiatry, 13, 818542. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.818542 [/mfn]
• Excessive guilt
• Hopelessness [mfn] Liu, R. T., Kleiman, E. M., Nestor, B. A., & Cheek, S. M. (2015). The Hopelessness Theory of Depression: A Quarter Century in Review. Clinical psychology : a publication of the Division of Clinical Psychology of the American Psychological Association, 22(4), 345–365. https://doi.org/10.1111/cpsp.12125 [/mfn]
• Helplessness [mfn] Nuvvula S. (2016). Learned helplessness. Contemporary clinical dentistry, 7(4), 426–427. https://doi.org/10.4103/0976-237X.194124 [/mfn]
• Indecisiveness
• Suicidal ideation [mfn] ‌Harmer, B., Lee, S., Duong, T. vi H., & Saadabadi, A. (2021). Suicidal Ideation. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK565877/ [/mfn]
• Persistent body aches, such as back pain and headache

Read More About Insomnia Here

What Causes Depression at Night?

Here are several potential factors [mfn] Council, R., Mary Jane England, & Sim, L. J. (2019). The Etiology of Depression. Nih.gov; National Academies Press (US). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK215119/ [/mfn] that may contribute to depression at night:

1. Heredity

A family history of depression may increase the likelihood [mfn] Shadrina, M., Bondarenko, E. A., & Slominsky, P. A. (2018). Genetics Factors in Major Depression Disease. Frontiers in psychiatry, 9, 334. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00334 [/mfn] of experiencing depression at night.

2. Hormonal Imbalances

Hormones that regulate mood, such as melatonin and serotonin [mfn] Nautiyal, K. M., & Hen, R. (2017). Serotonin receptors in depression: from A to B. F1000Research, 6, 123. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.9736.1 [/mfn] , can become imbalanced due to disruptions in circadian rhythm, exposure to artificial light, or other factors, contributing to depression at night.

3. Disruption in Circadian Rhythm

Irregular sleep patterns or nighttime shift work can disrupt circadian rhythms [mfn] Reddy, S., Reddy, V., & Sharma, S. (2020). Physiology, Circadian Rhythm. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519507/#:~:text=Circadian%20rhythm%20is%20the%2024 [/mfn] , leading to depression and other mood disorders.

4. Excessive Rumination

During the night, people may have more time [mfn] Armstead, E. A., Votta, C. M., & Deldin, P. J. (2019). Examining rumination and sleep: A transdiagnostic approach to depression and social anxiety. Neurology, Psychiatry and Brain Research, 32, 99–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.npbr.2019.05.003 [/mfn] to dwell on negative thoughts and emotions, which can contribute to depression.

5. Lifestyle Factors

Poor sleep hygiene, such as consuming caffeine [mfn] Clark, I., & Landolt, H. P. (2017). Coffee, caffeine, and sleep: A systematic review of epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials. Sleep medicine reviews, 31, 70–78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2016.01.006 [/mfn] close to bedtime, can disrupt sleep and contribute to depression at night. Additionally, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, and social isolation can also contribute [mfn] Cui, N., Cui, J., Xu, X., Aslam, B., Bai, L., Li, D., Wu, D., Ma, Z., Sun, J., & Baloch, Z. (2021). Health Conditions, Lifestyle Factors and Depression in Adults in Qingdao, China: A Cross-Sectional Study. Frontiers in psychiatry, 12, 508810. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.508810 [/mfn] to depression and other mood disorders.

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6. Trauma

Trauma, such as physical or emotional abuse [mfn] Vitriol, V., Cancino, A., Weil, K., Salgado, C., Asenjo, M. A., & Potthoff, S. (2014). Depression and psychological trauma: an overview integrating current research and specific evidence of studies in the treatment of depression in public mental health services in chile. Depression research and treatment, 2014, 608671. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/608671 [/mfn] , can lead to depression at night and other mental health conditions.

7. Artificial Light Exposure

Exposure to artificial light [mfn] Bedrosian, T. A., & Nelson, R. J. (2017). Timing of light exposure affects mood and brain circuits. Translational psychiatry, 7(1), e1017. https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2016.262 [/mfn] , particularly blue light emitted by electronic devices, can disrupt the natural production of melatonin and disrupt sleep-wake cycles, which can lead to depression.

Nighttime Depression and Anxiety

Nighttime depression and anxiety are closely linked [mfn] Tiller J. W. (2013). Depression and anxiety. The Medical journal of Australia, 199(S6), S28–S31. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja12.10628 [/mfn] mental health challenges that can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. Those who experience these conditions are at greater risk of irritability, suicidality, and sleep disturbance, which can exacerbate symptoms such as breathing issues, rapid heart rate, and nightmares during attempts to fall asleep.

The tendency to awaken at night with intrusive thoughts [mfn] Tiller J. W. (2013). Depression and anxiety. The Medical journal of Australia, 199(S6), S28–S31. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja12.10628 [/mfn] is a major factor that worsens nighttime depression and anxiety symptoms, disrupting sleep and leading to a cycle of worsening symptoms. Lack of distraction [mfn] Roelofs, J., Rood, L., Meesters, C., te Dorsthorst, V., Bögels, S., Alloy, L. B., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2009). The influence of rumination and distraction on depressed and anxious mood: a prospective examination of the response styles theory in children and adolescents. European child & adolescent psychiatry, 18(10), 635–642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-009-0026-7 [/mfn] at night can further imbalance an individual’s state of mind, making it difficult to manage symptoms and achieve restful sleep.

Diagnosis of Depression at Night

If symptoms persist for more than 2 weeks, it is recommended [mfn] Depression in adults: treatment and management. (2022). In PubMed. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK583074/ [/mfn] to seek advice from a mental health professional (MHP). The MHP will assess the symptoms, life events, and family history of mental illness, among other factors.

They may use several self-assessment tests to outline an appropriate treatment plan, such as:

1. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [mfn] Ma, S., Yang, J., Yang, B., Kang, L., Wang, P., Zhang, N., Wang, W., Zong, X., Wang, Y., Bai, H., Guo, Q., Yao, L., Fang, L., & Liu, Z. (2021). The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 vs. the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression in Assessing Major Depressive Disorder. Frontiers in psychiatry, 12, 747139. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.747139 [/mfn]
2. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory [mfn] Floyd, A. E., & Gupta, V. (2022, April 28). Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557525/ [/mfn]
3. Beck Depression Inventory [mfn] García-Batista, Z. E., Guerra-Peña, K., Cano-Vindel, A., Herrera-Martínez, S. X., & Medrano, L. A. (2018). Validity and reliability of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) in general and hospital population of Dominican Republic. PloS one, 13(6), e0199750. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199750 [/mfn]

Treatment for Nighttime Depression

Nighttime depression treatment [mfn] Duval, F., Lebowitz, B. D., & Macher, J. P. (2006). Treatments in depression. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 8(2), 191–206. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2006.8.2/fduval [/mfn] includes various forms of psychological treatment and medication. These are discussed below:

I. Therapy

Therapies can be an effective form to deal with individuals [mfn] Information, N. C. for B., Pike, U. S. N. L. of M. 8600 R., MD, B., & Usa, 20894. (2020). Treatments for depression. In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279282/ [/mfn] with nighttime depression. It includes techniques like,

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1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of therapy that focuses on changing negative thought [mfn] Gautam, M., Tripathi, A., Deshmukh, D., & Gaur, M. (2020). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression. Indian journal of psychiatry, 62(Suppl 2), S223–S229. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_772_19 [/mfn] patterns and behaviors. It can help individuals with nighttime depression identify and challenge negative thoughts that may be contributing to their symptoms. CBT can also teach skills for coping with negative thoughts and feelings that may arise at night.

Read More About Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Here

2. Light Therapy

Light therapy involves exposure to bright light [mfn] Campbell, P. D., Miller, A. M., & Woesner, M. E. (2017). Bright Light Therapy: Seasonal Affective Disorder and Beyond. The Einstein journal of biology and medicine : EJBM, 32, E13–E25. [/mfn] , which can help regulate circadian rhythms and improve mood. For those with nighttime depression, light therapy may involve exposure to bright light in the morning or early evening to help reset the body’s internal clock.

3. Mindfulness-Based Therapy

Mindfulness-based therapies, such as mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT [mfn] Tickell, A., Ball, S., Bernard, P., Kuyken, W., Marx, R., Pack, S., Strauss, C., Sweeney, T., & Crane, C. (2020). The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) in Real-World Healthcare Services. Mindfulness, 11(2), 279–290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-018-1087-9 [/mfn] ), can help individuals with nighttime depression cultivate greater awareness of their thoughts and emotions. This can help them develop more effective coping strategies for managing symptoms at night.

II. Pharmacotherapy

Psychiatrists may prescribe various types of antidepressants [mfn] Information, N. C. for B., Pike, U. S. N. L. of M. 8600 R., MD, B., & Usa, 20894. (2020). Treatments for depression. In www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG). Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279282/ [/mfn] as a medication for nighttime depression, including:

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• Tricyclic and Tetracyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
• Selective Serotonin and Noradrenaline Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)

How to Fight Against Depression at Night

Consider the following tips for coping with [mfn] Goldman, L. S., Nielsen, N. H., & Champion, H. C. (1999). Awareness, diagnosis, and treatment of depression. Journal of general internal medicine, 14(9), 569–580. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1525-1497.1999.03478.x [/mfn] depression at night:

1. Consult a mental health professional if the symptoms persist for 2 weeks or more.
2. Try to avoid mobile phone use or screen time [mfn] Hale, L., Kirschen, G. W., LeBourgeois, M. K., Gradisar, M., Garrison, M. M., Montgomery-Downs, H., Kirschen, H., McHale, S. M., Chang, A. M., & Buxton, O. M. (2018). Youth Screen Media Habits and Sleep: Sleep-Friendly Screen Behavior Recommendations for Clinicians, Educators, and Parents. Child and adolescent psychiatric clinics of North America, 27(2), 229–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2017.11.014 [/mfn] one hour before sleeping.
3. Synchronize your biological clock [mfn] Wirz-Justice A. (2008). Diurnal variation of depressive symptoms. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 10(3), 337–343. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2008.10.3/awjustice [/mfn] to stabilize your mental health at night.
4. Try to maintain a healthy diet which is beneficial for improving one’s frame of mind.
5. Physical exercises and relaxation techniques, such as yoga or meditation [mfn] Parmentier, F. B. R., García-Toro, M., García-Campayo, J., Yañez, A. M., Andrés, P., & Gili, M. (2019). Mindfulness and Symptoms of Depression and Anxiety in the General Population: The Mediating Roles of Worry, Rumination, Reappraisal and Suppression. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 506. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00506 [/mfn] are advisable to cope with nighttime depression.
6. Avoid intake of caffeine or substance use before sleeping.
7. Write and maintain a sleep journal to improve your mood [mfn] Sohal, M., Singh, P., Dhillon, B. S., & Gill, H. S. (2022). Efficacy of journaling in the management of mental illness: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Family medicine and community health, 10(1), e001154. https://doi.org/10.1136/fmch-2021-001154 [/mfn] by expressing emotions like anger, pain, and other emotions.
8. Communicating with your loved ones like, partners, friends or family can be also effective for individuals with nighttime depression.

Takeaway

For some people, the symptoms of depression get worse at night. In such cases, he or she should be watchful of conditions that trigger their mental health condition. A proper diagnosis and timely treatment are necessary for full recovery from nighttime depression. It is recommended to continue with the treatment until the individual feels fine by him/herself.

At a Glance

1. Nighttime depression is a mental health condition where the symptoms of depression get worse at night.
2. Nighttime depression symptoms can include feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and anxiety, as well as disrupted sleep patterns.
3. Anxiety and depression frequently coexist in individuals.
4. Different factors such as heredity, artificial light exposure, and overthinking play significant roles in nighttime depression.
5. Communicating openly with loved ones can help in addressing depression at night.
6. It can be addressed by treatment like medication or psychotherapies.
7. Nighttime depression medication should be taken after seeking guidance from a qualified psychiatrist.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)