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Camryn McClurg

Professor Cassel

English Composition II

April 17, 2020

How does sleep deprivation lead to an increase in mental illness?

Sleep deprivation has been an ongoing issue for years globally. Although not getting

enough sleep can already cause major problems, recent studies have shown that it can have an

impact on one's mental health as well. Mental illness used to be looked at as something that you

were born with, but now we know a multitude of factors can lead to the development of these

conditions.

Even though there has been no difference found between sexes, children with existing

conditions, such as ADHD, have significantly higher rates of sleep deprivation. This loss of sleep

is leading to much higher rates of many mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety among

many ages (Beker). This uncontrollable condition can cause much bigger mental health

problems. The research is still a work in progress and many scientists and psychologists are

trying their best in order to find remedies to these issues. This would ensure the health of a wide

range of people that suffer from many different illnesses.

Sleep deprivation can play a role in many diseases that can develop later in life as well.

For example, although the direct cause of Alzheimers is unknown, forty five percent of all

patients with Alzheimers had some underlying sleep condition prior to developing Alzheimer's

(“Data on Sleep Deprivation”). Due to sleep being such an important factor in memory and other

developments, it can lead to not only depression and anxiety, but it has also been seen to have an
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effect on other mental illnesses like Alzheimers. This has been researched and studied by many

as it is an epidemic that plagues the world with more problems everyday. Though this is

unknown to many, so the spread of little sleep and long nights continues to increase.

Mental illnesses affect fifty percent of eighty percent of all patients within a studies

psychiatric ward, while nearly ninety percent of patients with bipolar disorder suffer from a sleep

related issue (“Sleep and Mental Health”). This is another example of a disorder that may not be

caused directly by sleep deprivation , but the lack of sleep can greatly increase the chances of the

development of some type of mental disorder. Many studies show the correlation between sleep

and the development of not only the mental illness, but also many the disruption of emotions and

feelings.

Although it has been argued about since studies of sleep came out, there is no direct study

showing that children are affected by mental illnesses related to sleep deprivation, than any other

age range (Jamieson). Age has been a hot topic of debate for years in regards to sleep and mental

illness separately and together. Overall, there is no result showing there is a higher rate within

children than in any other age range. Therefore, mental illness related to sleep deprivation does

not discriminate between a child or the elderly.

Individuals who are sleep deprived are often found to have mental disorders. Due to the

toll that lack of sleep takes on the human body, many get irritable and angry, which can lead to

the development of many different mental illnesses (Sleep and the College Student). These traits

can often be seen within many college classrooms as grumpy students roll in just before the class

begins, complaining about how little sleep they got last night. This is also often seen in many
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offices as coworkers complain about the late night they spent finishing a report. Although these

things sound minor, they can lead to much bigger issues within the future.
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Bibliography

Becker, Stephen P., et al. “The Impact of Comorbid Mental Health Symptoms and Sex on Sleep

Functioning in Children with ADHD.” European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, vol. 27,

no. 3, Mar. 2018, pp. 353–365. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1007/s00787-017-1055-2.

“Data on Sleep Deprivation Discussed by Researchers at National Institute of Mental Health

(Acute and Chronic Sleep Deprivation-Related Changes in N-Methyl-D-Aspartate

Receptor-Nitric Oxide Signalling in the Rat Cerebral Cortex with Reference To ...).”

News of Science, 2019. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.596771747&site=

eds-live.

Harvard Health Publishing. “Sleep and Mental Health.” Harvard Health,

www.health.harvard.edu/newsletter_article/sleep-and-mental-health​.

Jamieson, Daniel, et al. “Investigating the Links between Adolescent Sleep Deprivation,

Fronto-Limbic Connectivity and the Onset of Mental Disorders: A Review of the

Literature.” Sleep Medicine, vol. 66, Feb. 2020, pp. 61–67. EBSCOhost,

doi:10.1016/j.sleep.2019.08.013.

Peri, Camille. “Sleepiness: Cognitive and Emotional Effects.” WebMD, WebMD, 30 Apr. 2013,

www.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/features/emotions-cognitive#1.

Sleep and the College Student. [Electronic Resource]. Films Media Group, 2011. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat01128a&AN=scc.b1607322&site=e

ds-live.
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