A team of American researchers from three universities - Kentucky, Mayami and Ohio - conducted a study that revealed a close relationship between four common problems: insomnia, alcohol, stress and depression.
The study was attended by 405 people who regularly abuse alcohol and have problems with sleep. Scientists wanted to understand how these states interact and why they go together so often.
The results have shown that these problems reinforce each other. For example, insomnia can cause stress that causes a person to drink. And alcohol, in turn, causes depression, which further complicates sleep. These mechanisms form two vicious circles that repeat again and again.
According to the author of the study of psychologist Jessica Wife, these states not only coexist, but constantly feed each other. Stress and depression were the main "switches" between the states and in different directions launch closed cycles.
Although the study covers only a part of a broader problem, it opens the way to create more effective treatment approaches. Researchers plan to continue the observation to better understand how to stop these cycles before they become chronic.
