Structural brain changes in sleep disturbed children and adolescents and its relation to suicidality

Abstract

Links between sleep disorders and suicidality have been established in adults, however the development of these associations over adolescence remains understudied, as does the role of the underlying neurobiology. The aim of this thesis was to investigate whether sleep disorders are associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation and self-harm and suicide attempt in adolescence, and whether brain structural changes (between baseline and two-year follow-up) are associated with both sleep disorders and suicidality.

We utilized the longitudinal, US-based, prospective ABCD Study, comprising more than 11,000 children aged 9-10 at baseline. Total sleep disorder was used as a primary measure as well as the following sleep disorders were assessed: disorder of initiating and maintaining sleep (DIMS), sleep wake transition disorder (SWTD), sleep hyperhidrosis (SHY), sleep breathing disorder (SBD), disorder of arousal (DA) and disorder of excessive somnolence (DOES).

Suicidal ideation and self-harm and suicide attempt was obtained through the Child Behavioral Checklist.

Multivariate linear mixed effect models (LME) were used to examine associations between sleep disturbance and suicidal ideation and self-harm.

Further Linear Mixed Effect models were used to test associations between sleep disorders and brain changes and suicidality and brain changes.