Mood Disorders

Mood disorders are prevalent and concerning, particularly among children and adolescents. Sleep disturbances, particularly insomnia and hypersomnia (but also delayed sleep phase and sleep need), often co-occur with the mood disorders. Evidence has accrued suggesting that sleep disturbances are important pathways contributing to the mood disorders. The risk of depression is increased by preexisting insomnia, sleep problems interfere with depression treatment success, and in depressed adults treating the depression and insomnia is markedly better relative to treating depression alone. An evidence base is growing for the use of psychosocial treatments for sleep disturbance in youth. We describe the protocol we have developed for treating insomnia in depressed youth. Potential advantages for delivering psychosocial treatments for sleep disturbance, over medication treatments, are reviewed. We also discuss the importance of working with parents, the slight tip toward eveningness with the onset and progression through puberty, and the role of technology (cell phones, video games, etc.) in contributing to sleep disturbance.