Sleep Deprivation and Insomnia in Adolescence: Implications for Mental Health

Sara Uccella; Ramona Cordani; Federico Salfi; Maurizio Gorgoni; Serena Scarpelli; Angelo Gemignani; Pierre Alexis Geoffroy; Luigi De Gennaro; Laura Palagini; Michele Ferrara; Lino Nobili

doi:10.3390/brainsci13040569

Brain Sciences (Mar 2023)

Sleep Deprivation and Insomnia in Adolescence: Implications for Mental Health

Sara Uccella,
Ramona Cordani,
Federico Salfi,
Maurizio Gorgoni,
Serena Scarpelli,
Angelo Gemignani,
Pierre Alexis Geoffroy,
Luigi De Gennaro,
Laura Palagini,
Michele Ferrara,
Lino Nobili

Affiliations

Sara Uccella: Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy
Ramona Cordani: Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy
Federico Salfi: Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Maurizio Gorgoni: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Serena Scarpelli: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Angelo Gemignani: Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular and Critical Area Pathology, University of Pisa, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Pisana AUOP, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Pierre Alexis Geoffroy: Département de Psychiatrie et D’addictologie, AP-HP, GHU Paris Nord, DMU Neurosciences, Hopital Bichat—Claude Bernard, 75018 Paris, France
Luigi De Gennaro: Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Laura Palagini: Psychiatric Clinic, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana AUOP, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Michele Ferrara: Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Lino Nobili: Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13040569
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 13, no. 4
p. 569

Abstract

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Sleep changes significantly throughout the human lifespan. Physiological modifications in sleep regulation, in common with many mammals (especially in the circadian rhythms), predispose adolescents to sleep loss until early adulthood. Adolescents are one-sixth of all human beings and are at high risk for mental diseases (particularly mood disorders) and self-injury. This has been attributed to the incredible number of changes occurring in a limited time window that encompasses rapid biological and psychosocial modifications, which predispose teens to at-risk behaviors. Adolescents’ sleep patterns have been investigated as a biunivocal cause for potential damaging conditions, in which insufficient sleep may be both a cause and a consequence of mental health problems. The recent COVID-19 pandemic in particular has made a detrimental contribution to many adolescents’ mental health and sleep quality. In this review, we aim to summarize the knowledge in the field and to explore implications for adolescents’ (and future adults’) mental and physical health, as well as to outline potential strategies of prevention.

Published in Brain Sciences

ISSN: 2076-3425 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/brainsci/

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Abstract

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