Depression and Insomnia in Adolescents

Dr. Ginari G. Price leverages more than a decade of clinical experience to serve as medical director of Psycare, a psychiatric treatment agency in Fayetteville, Georgia. Dr. Ginari G. Price also completed a fellowship in sleep medicine, a field which she has researched extensively.

The link between depression and insomnia is broadly documented across multiple populations. For instance, clinical evidence shows that those diagnosed with insomnia are 10 times more likely to develop depression than those who experience regular sleep, while those with depression are prone to develop sleep disturbances. 

For teenagers with insomnia, this dual diagnosis presents both mental and physical health risks. Recent studies reveal that children with co-morbid sleep disorders have more severe and longer-term depression symptoms, as well as a risk of impaired movement, weight loss, and the inability to experience feelings of pleasure.

Co-morbid depression and anxiety may also lead to increased risk-taking behaviors, such as substance abuse. Fortunately, clinical data also reveals that early treatment of insomnia can reduce depression risk by as much as 47 percent. Such treatment often involves the implementation of good sleep hygiene practices, which include eliminating screen time before bed and establishing a regular bedtime routine. However, because of the potential severity of adolescent insomnia and its side effects, experts recommend professional assessment for teenagers who show signs of sleep disturbances.

Sleep and the Circadian Rhythm

The medical director of Psycare, LLC, in Fayetteville, Georgia, psychiatrist Dr. Ginari G. Price is double board certified in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. A member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, Dr. Ginari G. Price is eligible to take the sleep medicine board examination. 

Physicians working in the field of sleep medicine are educated in a wide variety of related topics, including sleep issues such as parasomnias (sleepwalking) and insomnia, sleep-related breathing and movement, and circadian rhythms.

A circadian rhythm is a natural 24-hour cycle present in all living beings, from plants and fungi to humans and animals. A person’s circadian rhythm dictates when he or she wants or requires sleep and nourishment.

The circadian rhythm is largely an endogenic process, which means it is controlled by forces within the body. However, the human biological clock that controls the circadian rhythm does not span an exact 24 hours. Rather, estimates place the actual time between 24.2 and 25.5 hours. Because of this, outside variables such as patterns of daylight and darkness also affect one’s circadian rhythm. 

Circadian rhythms are responsible for more than just determining when a person needs sleep and food. They also play a role in hormone release and body temperature, and abnormal rhythms can even affect weight gain and emotional health.

The Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 Senate Bill

 

Dr. Ginari G. Price has served as the medical director of Psycare, LLC, in Fayetteville, Georgia, since 2008. A psychiatrist with more than a decade of experience, Dr. Ginari G. Price holds membership with numerous professional organizations, including the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists (AACAP).

Established as its current incarnation in 1988, AACAP strives “to promote the healthy development of children, adolescents, and families” and offers support and assistance to professionals in related fields. AACAP also organizes and supports advocacy initiatives.

Currently, there are three legislative advocacy campaigns underway, one of which is focused on comprehensive mental health reform. The senate bill S.2680, entitled the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016, is requesting numerous alterations to government processes, including the following changes to syntax:

- Renaming the Centers for Disease Control. The bill advocates for the new title, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

- Striking “substance abuse” from administrative terminology, and replacing it with “mental and/or substance use disorders.”

- Reordering the term “treatment and prevention” so that it reads “prevention and treatment.”

This bill is under the jurisdiction of the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar in April 2016.