Research

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Self-reported insomnia in young men is a significant predictor of clinical depression and psychiatric distress decades later, independent of other risk factors.

If you struggle with insomnia, treat it as a serious warning sign for future mental health, not just a nuisance. The risk for depression persists for decades. Prioritize sleep hygiene and seek professional help for sleep disturbances early, as they are a strong predictor of future psychiatric distress.

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These findings suggest that insomnia in young men is indicative of a greater risk for subsequent clinical depression and psychiatric distress that persists for at least 30 years.
Pohua P. Chang et al. · American Journal of Epidemiology · 1997

Why this rating

Longitudinal prospective study with 34-year median follow-up and rigorous adjustment for covariates.

Source

Insomnia in Young Men and Subsequent Depression: The Johns Hopkins Precursors Study

Pohua P. Chang et al. · American Journal of Epidemiology · 1997

DOI 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a009241

cohort · n=1053Cited 688×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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