Early risk factors for metabolic dysfunction in young people with major mood disorders: Longitudinal path analysis of...

Lifestyle interventions targeting weight loss currently show limited benefits for individuals with major mood disorders. Sleep-wake disturbances are prevalent in youth with mood disorders and linked to metabolic dysfunction. This study evaluates whether sleep-wake disturbance is a driver of metabolic dysfunction for individuals with major mood disorders, as compared to the existing theory that weight gain is the main contributor.

Longitudinal cohort study in 1712 individuals aged 21 to 30 years. Spearman's correlation coefficients were examined among depressive symptoms, sleep-wake cycle disturbance, and metabolic variables at 21 and 30 years. Structural equation modelling explored: (1) a cross-lagged effects model of depressive symptoms, sleep-wake cycle disturbance and body mass index (BMI), and (2) a parallel mediation model comparing two indirect pathways between depressive symptoms at 21 years and HOMA2-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance) at 30 years through sleep-wake disturbance and BMI.

We observed a small correlation between depressive symptoms at 21 and HOMA2-IR at 30 (r = 0.07, p < 0.01). In the mediation model, the direct relationship between depressive symptoms at 21 and HOMA2-IR at 30 was no longer significant but there was a small total relationship (B = 0.05, p < 0.05) and a significant indirect pathway through sleep-wake disturbance (B = 0.01, p < 0.05). Although not a significant mediator, BMI at 30 was strongly related to HOMA2-IR (B = 0.44, p < 0.001).

In this study, BMI was not a key mediator of the relationship between depressive symptoms and HOMA2-IR, while sleep-wake cycle disturbance appeared to play a small role. Research is needed in clinical populations with more robust measures of sleep-wake disturbance (e.g., actigraphy).