Treating Insomnia Symptoms as Part of Major Depressive Disorder: a Cross-Sectional Survey on Patient Needs in the US

Major depressive disorder (MDD) patients often experience insomnia symptoms as part of their depression. This survey aimed to evaluate MDD patient needs for adjunctive treatment for insomnia symptoms.
Using the Carenity online patient community and social media campaigns, this online cross-sectional survey (October 2022 to February 2023) recruited US adults aged ≥18y who self-identified as diagnosed MDD patients suffering from insomnia symptoms. The survey questionnaire assessed patient treatment preferences, along with depression and insomnia severities using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), respectively.
This study included n=500 patients (21% men, 73% women, 6% non-binary, mean age 41.8y SD 18.3). 34% of patients suffered from severe depression, while moderately severe, moderate, and mild depression levels were reported by 25%, 25%, and 14% of patients respectively. 43% of patients suffered from moderate insomnia, while mild and severe insomnia levels were reported by 31% and 19% of patients respectively. Overall, PHQ-9 and ISI scores were significantly correlated (Spearman correlation 0.41, p-value < 10-15). 41% of patients were dissatisfied with the effectiveness of their current or last antidepressant treatment in treating their insomnia. Dissatisfaction rates reached 65% in patients with severe depression (n=159). Similarly, 86% of patients with severe insomnia (n=95) wished for a different treatment for their depression and sleep issues. Finally, 28% of patients were not offered solutions after sharing their insomnia symptoms with a healthcare professional.
These results highlight patient needs for treatment options and healthcare professional advice addressing their insomnia symptoms as part of their MDD.