Lack of sleep is harmful at any age, but during childhood it is especially serious, as it can affect the development and psychological well-being of minors and have consequences on their long-term health. In fact, a new study by researchers at the University of Birmingham reveals that children between six months and seven years old who habitually slept fewer hours than recommended during this stage of their lives were more than twice as likely to develop a psychotic disorder. in young adulthood and almost four times more likely to experience a psychotic episode.
Although previous research has already established connections between sleep problems and psychosis at specific times, this study is the first to demonstrate that persistent lack of sleep is a strong predictive indicator of psychosis. “It is completely normal for children to experience sleep problems at different times during their childhood, but it is also important to know when it might be time to seek help. Sometimes sleep can become a persistent and chronic problem, and this is where we see links to psychiatric illnesses in adulthood,” explained lead author Dr. Isabel Morales-Muñoz.
“The good news is that we know it is possible to improve our sleep patterns and behaviors. “While persistent lack of sleep may not be the only cause of psychosis in early adulthood, our research suggests that it is a contributing factor and is something that parents can address,” adds the researcher. The results of the study have been published in JAMA Psychiatry.
Links between lack of sleep and psychosis
The researchers analyzed data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), which includes records of 12,394 children from 6 months to 7 years, and 3,889 at 24 years. Although the study found a strong relationship between lack of sleep in childhood and psychosis in early adulthood, the team has not demonstrated a causal link and it is necessary to explore other factors associated with both childhood sleep and psychosis.
For example, the team investigated the overall health of children’s immune systems to determine whether deficiencies in the immune system could also explain some of the associations between lack of sleep and psychosis. This was assessed at age nine by measuring inflammation levels in blood samples. The results showed that a weakened immune system could partially explain the links between lack of sleep and psychosis, but other unknown factors are also likely important.
“While persistent lack of sleep may not be the only cause of psychosis in early adulthood, our research suggests that it is a contributing factor and is something that parents can address.”
Dr Morales-Muñoz’s research forms part of the Midlands Translation Centre’s Mental Health Mission, led by the University of Birmingham and funded by the National Institute for Healthcare and Research. Its objective is to test and validate treatments in early psychosis and depression among children and young people.
“We know that early intervention is really important to help young people with mental illness. One of the priorities of the Midlands Mental Health Mission Translational Research Center of Excellence is to develop and test specific interventions that could have a real impact on young people who have an illness or are at risk of developing it. “Understanding the role that good sleep hygiene plays in positive mental health could be a really important part of this process.”
