British researchers recently published a study in The Lancet Psychiatry, showing a connection between insomnia and mental health.
The researchers recruited over 3,700 participants and randomly split them into two groups: one group received special treatment targeted toward insomnia, and the other received conventional treatment. They took a baseline measurement for each participant for insomnia, paranoia, hallucinations, anxiety, depression, nightmares, and psychological wellbeing, then assessed them again at 3, 10, and 22 weeks.
What they discovered was that those who received the sleep intervention treatment had reduced insomnia, as well as reduced paranoia and hallucinations. They also saw improvements in other mental health outcomes, which were maintained over time. Finally, those receiving the sleep intervention were less likely than the other participants to experience a depressive episode, anxiety disorder, or ultra-high risk of psychosis.
Getting enough sleep is critical for maintaining our mental health.