Is there a link between short sleep duration in childhood and the development of psychosis in young adulthood?

The Mental Health Mission Midlands Translational Centre (MHMTC)  is one of two demonstrator sites for the NIHR/OLS Mental Health Mission  whose aim is to accelerate regional mental health research capacity and re-engage industry in both Early Psychosis (EP) and difficult to treat depression (DTD) within the context of a young, superdiverse, deprived population.

Following a recent study, MHMTC researchers, Dr Isabel Morales-MuñozProfessor Steven Marwaha and Professor Rachel Upthegrove published an article on the relationship between sleep in childhood and the development of psychosis in adulthood and whether there is a link between the two.

Over 12,399 children and almost 4,000 young adults took part in the study where parent-reported sleep information was collected between the ages of 6 months and 7 years old. It was found that children with short sleep duration between these ages were more likely to develop psychosis by the age of 24.

The article, published in JAMA Psychiatry, concludes that persistent short sleep duration in childhood could have a detrimental impact on mental health in adulthood, including the development of psychosis.

Read more information about the study on the JAMA Network website.

Published: 28 May 2024
Last reviewed: 13 June, 2024