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Acta Physiologica 2012; Volume 206, Supplement 691
Scandinavian Physiological Society's Annual Meeting
8/24/2012-8/26/2012
Helsinki, Finland
SLEEP IN ADOLESCENT DEPRESSION
Abstract number: S0501
URRILA1,2 AS
1Institute of Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland,
2Helsinki University Central Hospital, Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Helsinki, Finland
Background:
During adolescence, sleep habits and sleep physiology undergo dramatic changes. Simultaneously the incidence of sleep disturbances and depression increase. The role of sleep in adolescent depression remains poorly understood.
Objective:
We examined the prevalence rates of different sleep complaints among adolescent outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD). Further, we examined whether depressed adolescents with and without different sleep disturbances differ in terms of severity of depression, the presence of comorbid psychiatric disorders, and the symptom profile of depression. Methods. A total of 166 Finnish adolescent psychiatric outpatients (age 1319; mean 16.5 years old; 17.5% boys) diagnosed with unipolar MDD (as defined by DSM-IV criteria) were included in the study. Their sleep complaints were assessed with self-rating scales and clinical research interviews. Results. The prevalence rate of subjective sleep complaints in adolescents with MDD was high: 83% of the adolescents experienced significantly disturbed sleep. The presence of sleep disturbances was associated with severity of depression. Adolescents with multiple sleep disturbances differed most from adolescents with no or minor sleep disturbances in terms of thoughts about death, suicidal thoughts, and anhedonia.
Conclusions:
Sleep disturbances and the severity of depression are closely linked in adolescent outpatients with MDD. The link between sleep disturbances and thoughts about death and suicidal thoughts calls for attention to sleep problems among depressed adolescents in clinical settings. Our current research aims at investigating the role of sleep in depressed adolescents in a follow-up setting and at investigating the underlying neurobiological mechanisms.
To cite this abstract, please use the following information:
Acta Physiologica 2012; Volume 206, Supplement 691 :S0501