A unique new study has linked adolescent insomnia to depression and substance abuse during adolescence and young adulthood.
The researchers say adolescent insomnia symptoms are associated with depression, suicide ideation and attempts, and the use of alcohol, cannabis and other drugs such as cocaine.
The study is unique in that it the first to examine over a lengthy period, insomnia in adolescents both in association with mental health problems during adolescence and as a risk factor for mental health problems in young adulthood.
The findings suggest that adolescents with insomnia have more than double the risk of developing mental health problems and such problems may be more severe.
It appears that adolescents with the symptoms of insomnia are 2.3 times more likely to develop depression in early adulthood than adolescents without symptoms of insomnia.
This was more so if the insomniacs used alcohol, cannabis and other drugs as these factors made it more likely they would suffer from depression, suicide thoughts, and suicide attempts.
Though the study excluded any participants with a diagnosed mental health problem at baseline, the insomnia group was still significantly more likely to develop depression.
Gender differences emerged for alcohol use, cannabis use, non-cannabis drug use, and depression - with males significantly more likely to endorse alcohol use, cannabis use, and the use of other drugs, while females were twice as likely to develop depression.