Children who consistently had less sleep from infancy to early childhood were found to have a higher chance of developing psychosis in early adulthood, according to new research from the University of Birmingham. The study looked at sleep duration data from a large group of children and found that those who consistently had fewer hours of sleep during this time were more than twice as likely to develop psychosis later in life.ly at risk of developing a psychotic disorder in early adulthood, and nearly four times as likely to experience a psychotic episode.
Prior research has identified connections between sleep issues and psychosis at specific moments in time, but this is the first study to demonstrate that persistent sleep deprivation is a strong indicator of psychosis.
Dr Isabel Morales-Muñoz, the lead author, stated: “It’s common for children to experience sleep difficulties at various stages of their childhood, but it’s important to recognize when it may be necessary to seek assistance. Sometimes, sleep problems can become persistent and long-term, and this is when we observe associations withThe author discusses the relationship between sleep patterns and behaviors in childhood and the risk of developing psychiatric illness in adulthood. The study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, analyzed data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) to understand the impact of sleep on mental health. It found that persistent lack of sleep in childhood could contribute to the development of psychosis in early adulthood. The research emphasizes the importance of addressing sleep patterns and behaviors in children to potentially reduce the risk of psychiatric illness later in life.The study found a strong association between lack of sleep in childhood and the risk of developing psychosis in early adulthood. However, the team has not yet established a causal link and believes that other factors related to both childhood sleep and psychosis need to be further investigated.
For instance, the team examined the overall immune system health of the children to determine if impairments in the immune system could also contribute to the associations between lack of sleep and psychosis. This was done by measuring levels of inflammation in blood samples when the children were nine years old. The results indicated that a compromised immune system could partially explain the connections between lack of sleep and psychosis, but there are likely other unknown factors at play as well.Important.
Dr Morales-Muñoz is conducting research as part of the Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre, which is led by the University of Birmingham and funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The goal of the center is to test and validate treatments for early psychosis and depression in children and young people.
“We understand the importance of early intervention in helping young people with mental illness. One of the main priorities of the Midlands Mental Health Mission Translational Research Centre of Excellence is to create and test targeted interventions that could truly make a difference for young people struggling with an illness or condition.The role that good sleep hygiene plays in positive mental health could be a crucial factor in preventing the development of mental health issues, particularly psychosis in young adulthood. A study published in JAMA Psychiatry explores the connection between inflammation, short sleep duration in childhood, and the risk of developing psychosis in young adulthood. The findings emphasize the importance of understanding the impact of sleep on mental health and the potential role of inflammation in this process.
