Teenage Depression May Be Caused By Sleep Issues
According to recent research, sleep problems—long assumed to be a sign of adolescent depression—might not even be the first sign.
A recent study performed by Flinders University and published in Nature Reviews Psychology contends that adolescent sleep biology and psychology together predispose young individuals to developing depression.
Dr. Cele Richardson, a psychological sciences lecturer at The University of Western Australia and a graduate of Flinders University, claims that a delayed circadian rhythm, short sleep duration, and more opportunities for negative thought while attempting to fall asleep were all contributing factors.
She claims that adolescents are the most chronically sleep-restricted sub-population in both western and eastern countries, and that research from all across the world suggests they sleep too little and too late.
Instead of things like using technology in the evening, the researchers discovered that a combination of developmental changes to the biological systems that regulate sleeping and waking at this time in people's lives give special pathways to depression.
According to Dr. Richardson, "the first element is a slower build-up of drowsiness during the day, which delays the start of sleep in older teens."
"Although teenagers tend to go to bed later, school starts are still early, making it difficult for kids to get the recommended 9.3 hours of sleep. Additionally, the lack of sleep worsens depression symptoms.
Second, a delayed circadian rhythm timing that happens throughout adolescent growth makes it harder to fall asleep, and having a delayed body clock is consistently linked to a higher risk of depression.
The chance for a third, more psychological pathway to depression—the opportunity for persistent negative thinking (anxiety and rumination), which is likewise associated with increased levels of depression in adolescents—is provided by these physiologically driven abnormalities in sleep.
Evidence-based sleep therapies, such as melatonin use, bright light therapy, and cognitive behavioural therapy techniques, according to researchers, may help novel pathway to alleviating depressive symptoms in young people.
D r. Richardson, who is conducting a clinical trial at UWA where bright light therapy will be added to a common treatment for depression to see whether this improves outcomes for adolescents, says further research into the role of sleep in depression may also help us develop more effective prevention approaches, so that we can stop the onset of depression, at least for some young people.
The use of melatonin, bright light treatment, and cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques are among the evidence-based sleep remedies that researchers claim may offer a fresh approach to treating young individuals with depressive symptoms. Image is freely available to use.
Dr . Gorica Micic, a researcher at the Flinders Institute for Sleep Health and a co-author of the new report, suggests that communities and schools include sleep education in their curricula to improve the wellbeing of children at this vulnerable age.
Dr . Micic claims that understanding the basics of sleep and the changes that occur during puberty can help young people better understand and control their sleep. "Given that underlying biological and physiological variables strongly contribute to its manifestation," he adds.
Parents also have responsibility, according to Dr . Michelle Short, a researcher at Flinders University.
When it comes to bedtimes on school nights, "families might promote teen sleep and mental health by setting limitations, while schools could enable kids to start courses at 8.30am or later and refrain from arranging extracurricular activities before school," Dr . Short advises.
Abstract
The genesis and remission of adolescent depression: the impact of sleep
Sleep and depression, two areas of teenage mental health, had developed essentially concurrently until around four years ago. Although sleep issues have traditionally been considered a sign of adolescent sadness, new research indicates that sleep issues start before depression does.
In this Review, we discuss the specific predisposition for adolescent depression that results from the interaction of adolescent sleep biology and psychology.
We outline several mechanisms and causes, such as a delayed circadian rhythm, short sleep duration, and more opportunities for negative repetitious thought while awaiting sleep. We pair each component with evidence-based sleep therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, exogenous melatonin, and bright light therapy.
Such therapies enhance sleep and lessen depressive symptoms, emphasising the value of sleep therapy for treating comorbid diseases that affect adolescents.
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