Neuroimaging insights on sleep disturbances and risk for major depressive disorder in youth: A systematic review

IF 4.8 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHIATRY

Comprehensive psychiatry Pub Date : 2026-07-01 Epub Date: 2026-06-13 DOI:10.1016/j.comppsych.2026.152728

Nicolas Gauthier, Laiba Irfan Butt, Sidney H. Kennedy, Venkat Bhat, Andre C. Tonon, Katharine Dunlop

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Sleep is critical for brain function and cognitive development, especially in children and adolescents. Sleep disturbances or insufficient sleep may pose a risk for poor long-term health outcomes, including major depressive disorder (MDD). This systematic review sought to the neurobiological relationship between sleep and risk for future depressive disorders or symptoms.

Methods

A pre-registered, systematic search was conducted using MEDLINE, PsychInfo, and Embase databases from January 2000 to February 2025. Studies included investigated neurobiological changes related to sleep in predicting subsequent risk for first episode MDD or depressive symptoms in children, adolescents, and young adults (mean age < 30 years). We narratively synthesized the results and completed a quality assessment using a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale.

Results

The search yielded four cross-sectional studies comparing high and low MDD risk individuals, and seven longitudinal studies predicting risk of future depressive symptoms. Sleep neurophysiological markers like rapid eye movement latency and sleep spindle density, white matter integrity in the cingulum bundle and superior longitudinal fasciculus, and activity within the salience network and dorsomedial prefrontal cortex associated with sleep quality and differed in individuals with an increased risk for MDD. A low-to-moderate risk of bias was detected among all studies.

Conclusions

Due to the limited number of studies and methodological heterogeneity, the highlighted evidence remains preliminary. This review emphasizes the importance of addressing sleep problems in youth before they potentially contribute to lasting changes in emotional and mental health, as well as the need to further study the relationship between sleep disturbances and risk for MDD.

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青少年睡眠障碍和重度抑郁症风险的神经影像学研究：一项系统综述。

背景：睡眠对大脑功能和认知发展至关重要，尤其是儿童和青少年。睡眠障碍或睡眠不足可能对不良的长期健康结果构成风险，包括重度抑郁症（MDD）。这篇系统综述试图找出睡眠与未来抑郁障碍或症状风险之间的神经生物学关系。方法：2000年1月至2025年2月，采用MEDLINE、PsychInfo和Embase数据库进行预登记、系统检索。研究包括调查了与睡眠相关的神经生物学变化，以预测儿童、青少年和年轻人（平均年龄）首次发作MDD或抑郁症状的后续风险。结果：搜索产生了四项比较高和低MDD风险个体的横断面研究，以及七项预测未来抑郁症状风险的纵向研究。睡眠神经生理指标，如快速眼动潜伏期和睡眠纺锤体密度，扣带束和上纵束的白质完整性，以及突出网络和背内侧前额叶皮层的活动与睡眠质量相关，并且在MDD风险增加的个体中有所不同。所有研究均存在低至中等偏倚风险。结论：由于研究数量有限和方法异质性，突出的证据仍然是初步的。这篇综述强调了解决青少年睡眠问题的重要性，在它们可能导致情绪和心理健康的持久变化之前，以及进一步研究睡眠障碍与重度抑郁症风险之间的关系的必要性。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Comprehensive psychiatry 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

12.50

自引率

1.40%

发文量

审稿时长

29 days

期刊介绍： "Comprehensive Psychiatry" is an open access, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the field of psychiatry and mental health. Its primary mission is to share the latest advancements in knowledge to enhance patient care and deepen the understanding of mental illnesses. The journal is supported by a diverse team of international editors and peer reviewers, ensuring the publication of high-quality research with a strong focus on clinical relevance and the implications for psychopathology. "Comprehensive Psychiatry" encourages authors to present their research in an accessible manner, facilitating engagement with clinicians, policymakers, and the broader public. By embracing an open access policy, the journal aims to maximize the global impact of its content, making it readily available to a wide audience and fostering scientific collaboration and public awareness beyond the traditional academic community. This approach is designed to promote a more inclusive and informed dialogue on mental health, contributing to the overall progress in the field.