Results: Case-level depression was associated with increased mortality (Hazard Ratio=1.52, 95% CI 1.35-1.72) comparable to that of smoking (Hazard Ratio=1.59, 95% CI 1.44-1.75), and which was only partly explained by somatic symptoms/conditions. Depression increased CVD mortality as much as other causes of death. Anxiety comorbid with depression lowered mortality compared to depression alone (anxiety by depression interaction p=.017). The association between anxiety symptom load and mortality was U-shaped. There was no effect of insomnia on mortality beyond confounding. Conclusions: Depression is an important and independent risk factor for mortality across common causes of death. Comorbid anxiety reduced mortality compared to depression alone. The relationship between anxiety symptoms and mortality was more complex with a U-shape and highest mortality in those with the lowest anxiety symptom loads. Declaration of interest None. Objective: To examine polysomnographic sleep parameters as well as the prevalence of sleep apnoea and periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) in older chronic hypnotic users compared to aged-matched drug-free patients complaining of insomnia and good sleepers. Methods: Polysomnographic data were collected at a university-based outpatient clinic for adults and elderly. 19 patients using sleep medications on a daily basis (5-7 days per week) for at least one year were compared with 64 drug-free patients complaining of insomnia and 26 good sleepers. Mean age was 63.8 years (SD=7.0). Outcome measures were polysomnographic sleep parameters (total sleep time, wake after sleep onset, sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, slow-wave sleep), and prevalence estimates of sleep apnoea and PLMD. Results: The chronic hypnotic users spent more time awake and had reduced sleep efficiency compared to good sleepers. The amount of slowwave sleep was significantly lower among chronic hypnotic users compared to the other two groups. There were no differences between the chronic hypnotic users and drug-free patients complaining of insomnia on any of the other PSG-parameters. The prevalence rate of sleep apnoea (AHI>10) was 42% both among the drug-free patients complaining of insomnia and chronic users of sleep medications, compared to 12% in the good sleepers group. There were no significant group differences in the prevalence of PLMD between the three groups (37%-39%).