Insomnia may be a risk factor for developing a variety of emotion-related symptoms, according to a new study published in the October 1 issue of the journal Sleep.
At the beginning of the study, each participant reported no signs of depression or substance abuse but 9.4% of them did report symptoms of insomnia, which include having trouble falling asleep every night or almost every night. In-home interviews with parents or guardians and self-reports provided by the study participants provided pertinent background data.
Over the course of the study, adolescents with insomnia were found to be 2.3 times more likely to develop symptoms of depression over their fellow students without insomnia. These same students were more likely to indulge in consumption of alcohol, cannabis, and other drugs, including cocaine, by the time they reached early adulthood.
Whenever two or more factors are correlated statistically, as they are in this study, the question arises as to which is the cause and which the effect. In this case, the researchers appear to have sorted through those questions artfully.
They conclude that insomnia is a significant risk factor for these more severe emotional problems. A gateway symptom, if you will. A tipoff that doctors should take seriously.
