Delayed sleep onset in depressed young people

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Sleep Medicine
• Addiction Research

Background:

• Circadian rhythm abnormalities, specifically delayed sleep phase, may characterize a subgroup of depressed young adults.
• Understanding the prevalence and associated factors, including substance use, is crucial in help-seeking young people with mental health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of delayed sleep phase in depressed young adults.
• To identify factors, particularly substance use, associated with delayed sleep phase in this population.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 802 help-seeking young people with mental health problems was recruited.
• 305 participants with moderate depressive symptoms and without chronic severe mental illness were analyzed.
• Delayed sleep phase was defined as sleep onset between 02:00 a.m. and 06:00 a.m.

Main Results:

• Delayed sleep onset occurred in 18% of depressed young adults versus 11% of non-depressed individuals.
• Delayed sleep onset was associated with tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis misuse, and shorter sleep duration (5.8 hours).
• Tobacco use was the only significant predictor (OR 2.28) of delayed sleep onset in logistic regression.

Conclusions:

• Delayed sleep onset is more prevalent in depressed young people and may signify a specific mood disorder subgroup.
• This subgroup experiences short sleep duration and higher tobacco use, posing risks for chronic psychological ill health.
• Nicotine use disrupts sleep and warrants specific attention in managing delayed sleep onset in this population.