Can Childhood Sleep Issues Increase the Risk of Psychosis in Adulthood? Exploring the Research and What Parents Can Do
Recent research suggests a connection between chronic sleep problems in childhood and an increased risk of developing psychosis in adulthood. Here's a breakdown: The Study: Researchers analyzed data from a long-term study tracking nearly 12,400 children's sleep patterns from infancy (6 months old) to early childhood (7 years old). They then followed up on these children's mental health in early adulthood (around 24 years old). Several studies have explored the relationship between sleep disturbances in childhood and later mental health outcomes. One significant study published in the JAMA Psychiatry journal in 2019 examined data from a longitudinal birth cohort study in the United Kingdom. The researchers found that children who experienced persistent sleep problems throughout childhood were more likely to develop psychotic experiences in adolescence. Another study published in the Schizophrenia Bulletin in 2020 also found a correlation between childhood sleep disturban