Sleep disruptions and the pathway to psychosis: An in‐depth case and literature review

Abstract

Key Clinical Message The case highlights an unusual presentation where sleep issues preceded psychotic symptoms, implying link between disrupted sleep and psychosis onset. Earlier symptoms were viewed as depression but may have signaled psychosis exacerbated by insomnia. Abstract Sleep disorders, prevalent yet frequently overlooked in individuals with psychotic disorders, have significant associations with the onset and severity of psychosis. Here we describe the case of a patient who first presented with insomnia, but whose condition improved with the use of risperidone and was diagnosed with first‐episode psychosis. Multiple studies emphasize the critical relationship between sleep disturbances and psychosis, particularly in the lead‐up to first‐episode psychosis. Structural abnormalities in the brain, notably the thalamus, combined with neurotransmitter imbalances involving dopamine and acetylcholine, seem pivotal in this interrelation. The connection between dopamine, sleep disturbances, and psychosis, specifically the role of D2 dopamine receptors, highlights a potential pathway bridging sleep irregularities with psychosis. The study underscores the need for further research to delineate the relationship between sleep disturbances and psychosis and to assess the efficacy of various therapeutic interventions targeting both conditions.

Keywords

• case report
• first episode psychosis
• insomnia
• schizophrenia