What mental health disorder is characterized by early morning waking?

The characteristic of early morning waking is most commonly associated with depression. In individuals experiencing major depressive disorder, sleep disturbances are a prevalent symptom, and one specific pattern they often report is waking up earlier than desired and being unable to return to sleep. This phenomenon, known as terminal insomnia, reflects the underlying issues with mood regulation and often accompanies feelings of hopelessness and sadness that are typical in depressive episodes.

While anxiety disorders can also lead to sleep disturbances, they typically cause difficulty falling asleep rather than early morning awakening. Post-traumatic stress disorder can involve sleep disturbances, but this is more commonly related to nightmares or restless sleep rather than specifically waking earlier. Bipolar disorder also presents unique sleep challenges, particularly during manic episodes, where individuals may have diminished need for sleep, but early morning waking is more specifically tied to the depressive phase. Thus, early morning waking serves as a hallmark symptom of depression, connecting it directly to this mental health disorder.