In one of the largest epidemiologic studies of insomnia among adolescents ever conducted in the United States, a study published in the February 1 issue of the journal SLEEP allows for an estimation of the impact of chronic insomnia on future functioning of adolescents. Youths with insomnia, particularly chronic insomnia, are at greater risk of future somatic and especially psychological problems, the study found.Robert E. Roberts, PhD, professor of behavioral sciences at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston, and lead author of the study, collected data from 4,175 youths between 11-17 years of age, who completed diagnostic interviews and questionnaires that inquired about symptoms of disturbed sleep, focusing primarily on symptoms of insomnia, their frequency and duration. Dr. Roberts and his colleagues then examined selected risk and protective factors and their ability to prospectively predict incidence of insomnia over one year, specifically age, sex, family income, ethnicity, and physical and mental problems.

The follow-up one year later consisted of 3,134 of these youths. [continue reading…]