Teen insomniacs at 'increased depression, substance abuse risk'

Washington, Oct 2 : Teenagers with insomnia are at an increased risk of developing depression and substance abuse problems in adolescence and young adulthood, a new study has found.

The study showed that adolescent insomniacs were also at an increase the risk of suicide ideation and attempts, and the use of alcohol, cannabis and other drugs such as cocaine.

The research involved 4,494 adolescents between 12 and 18 years of age at the beginning of the study, and 3,582 young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 years in a six-to-seven year follow up.

The findings revealed that adolescents who had symptoms of insomnia were 2.3 times more likely to develop depression in early adulthood than adolescents without symptoms of insomnia.

Moreover, the insomnia group was more likely to use alcohol, cannabis, and non-cannabis drugs, and was more likely to suffer have suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts, after excluding participants who suffered from these specific psychopathologies at baseline.

ndependently of insomnia status, males were significantly more likely to endorse alcohol use, cannabis use, and the use of other drugs, while females were twice as likely to develop depression.

"Previous research in adults has found similar results to this study," said principal investigator and lead author Brandy M. Roane, MS, a doctoral student at the University of North Texas.

"The current study suggests adolescents with insomnia are more prone to developing mental disorders, specifically depression," she added.

The study appears in the journal Sleep.

ANI