- Researchers analyzed the effects of melatonin use on self-harm in teenagers and children.
- They found that melatonin use decreased self-harm in young people, especially in adolescent girls with depression and anxiety.
- Further studies are needed to confirm these results and the possible benefits of melatonin for mental health and well-being.
Sleep disorders such as insomnia are common among young people, especially those with psychiatric conditions.
According to some estimates, around 17% of youth engage in self-harming behavior. There are currently few empirically-supported treatments for the condition in youth.
A recent meta-analysis suggests that treating the causes of self-harm may reduce its incidence. Some have thus suggested that
In Sweden, melatonin is the most commonly prescribed drug for sleep disturbances in children and teenagers. Melatonin is a naturally-occurring hormone that helps maintain the normal sleep-wake cycle and other biological processes.
Understanding more about how melatonin affects self-harm in children and adolescents could inform treatment options for the behavior.
Recently, researchers examined the risk of self-harm and unintentional injuries before and after melatonin treatment in youth with and without psychiatric conditions.
They found that melatonin treatment was linked to lower levels of self-harm—especially in adolescent girls with depression and anxiety.
The study was published in the
For the study, the researchers analyzed public healthcare data from 25,575 youths in Sweden who began melatonin treatment between ages 6 and 18.
The children and adolescents were followed for a year prior to melatonin prescription and a year following. They began treatment at an average of age 13 years old, and most commonly initiated treatment in November. Treatment lasted for an average of 6.4 months.
The researchers found that 87.2% of…
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