Getting enough, good quality sleep every night is important. Yet, hundreds of Americans struggle to get ample rest regularly, despite all efforts. We know sleep deprivation is generally bad for our health, yet research shows it can be harnessed to help heal depression.
About one in three adults report not getting enough sleep, and an estimated 50 to 70 million face chronic sleep disorders. This can lead to sleep deprivation, from either not enough sleep or poor-quality sleep.
The amount of sleep we need changes with age, and we know the consequences of not getting enough. Reaching any point of sleep deprivation can impact daily life, leading to mood changes, difficulty concentrating, and memory issues. Severe and chronic cases can harm connectivity and blood flow in the brain, and result in conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.
The use of sleep aides is at an all-time high, often involving experimenting with different methods to finally get some rest. For those already experiencing sleep deprivation, a recent study found that taking a creatine supplement can improve cognitive performance and energy levels as a way to mitigate the effects of prolonged sleeplessness. This can be useful for those who can’t avoid irregular sleep, such as night shift workers.
Despite the battle for quality sleep and reprieve, some people with depression can actually benefit from sleep deprivation.
Sleep Deprived on Purpose
Wake therapy intentionally uses sleep deprivation to temporarily treat depression. This is because, for some, being in a sleepless state for a prolonged period can boost mood, increase mental and physical stamina, and enhance creativity. What distinguishes wake therapy from other treatments for depression is that it works fast; antidepressants, for example, can take weeks to kick-in.
Triple chronotherapy is one type of wake therapy that uses a combination of one total night of sleep deprivation (33-36 hours), followed by three nights of sleep phase advance (sleep between 6pm and 1am on day one, 8pm and 3am on day two, and 10pm and 5am on day three), accompanied by 30-minute sessions of bright light therapy each morning. This therapy is often given in conjunction with other treatments, like medicine.
It’s been found effective in preventing some from relapsing into depression and shows promise in treating acutely suicidal patients. Despite these findings though, research is still limited and the effects remain short-term.
Manipulating sleep for treatment is tricky since sleep patterns differ for everyone. Our circadian rhythms, or internal clocks, are not consistent and can vary based on genetics, age, sex, exposure to light, and time zone. Because of these complications and other risks, any form of wake therapy should be done under the supervision of a clinician.
Sleep deprivation as a tool for healing isn’t new. Native American communities have long practiced using different forms of deprivation, including lack of sleep, food, or comfort, to access altered states of consciousness. There seems to be something about entering a delirious state of mind that can change the way we process information, and sleep deprivation can be one way to get there. It’s believed that while being in this hypnotic-like state, under the guidance of an elder or shaman, healing of a “lost soul” – otherwise believed to be depression – is possible.
So, does this mean that some of us should purposefully become sleep deprived? Definitely not, as evidence points to the importance of sleep for health and well-being, in general. As for sleep deprivation (wake therapy) to address depression, it is wise to work closely with an experienced practitioner. At the very least, while more research is needed to understand how sleep deprivation can both be avoided and used to address specific conditions, it has shown promise across different communities.
