The Role of the Sleep-Wake Cycle in Adolescent Mental Illness

Abstract

Considerable sleep-wake cycle changes occur throughout adolescence and young adulthood, typically involving reductions of sleep duration and sleep-wake phase delays. The purpose of this review is to synthesize current evidence regarding sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythm disturbance in adolescence, particularly in the context of emerging mental disorders. The clinical presentation of sleep-wake disturbances in adolescents with emerging mood or psychotic disorders is heterogeneous and multifaceted both between individuals and across studies. Whilst the available evidence suggests that sleep-wake cycle disturbances are common in adolescents with emerging psychopathologies, there are limited studies conducted on this age group. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these relationships are yet to be clarified. Several fundamental gaps remain in the literature concerning the role of the sleep-wake cycle in emerging adolescent psychopathology. Further research is essential to better characterize sleep-wake patterns in relation to specific mental health syndromes, and more longitudinal research is needed to elucidate causal relationships and treatment implications.