2023-04-05 カロリンスカ研究所(KI)
スウェーデンで実施されたこの研究により、メラトニンは若い人たちの自傷行為を減らす効果があることが分かった。治療としてメラトニンを用いることで、自傷行為や中毒による損傷のリスクが減少する。また、若者たちの精神科疾患の中でも、抑うつや不安障害を抱える思春期の女性に対して自傷行為が減少する傾向がある。
しかし、新しい薬を始める前には必ず医師に相談する必要がある。
<関連情報>
- https://theconversation.com/melatonin-use-may-reduce-self-harm-in-young-people-research-shows-202895
- https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.13785
精神疾患のある青少年とない青少年におけるメラトニンの使用と自傷行為および不慮の傷害のリスク Melatonin use and the risk of self-harm and unintentional injuries in youths with and without psychiatric disorders
Marica Leone, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Tyra Lagerberg, Johan Bjureberg, Agnieszka Butwicka, Zheng Chang, Henrik Larsson, Brian M. D’Onofrio, Amy Leval, Sarah E. Bergen
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry Published: 23 March 2023
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13785
Abstract
Background
Sleep disorders in youth have been associated with increased risks of injury, including suicidal behavior. This study investigated whether melatonin, which is the most common medication for sleep disturbances in youth in Sweden, is associated with a decreased risk of injury.
Methods
This population-based cohort study included 25,575 youths who initiated melatonin treatment between ages 6 and 18. Poisson regression was used to estimate rate of injuries in the year prior to and following melatonin treatment initiation. A within-individual design was used to estimate relative risks by comparing injury risk in the last unmedicated month with injury risks in the 12 months after medication initiation. Analyses were stratified by sex, injury type, psychiatric comorbidities and age at melatonin-treatment initiation.
Results
While body injuries, falls and transport accident rates were comparable in the year before and after melatonin-treatment initiation, the risk of self-harm was highest in the months immediately prior to medication, and decreased thereafter. This was particularly prominent among adolescents with depression and/or anxiety, with females displaying greater absolute risks than males. Compared to the last unmedicated month, the 12 months post medication initiation had decreased relative risks for self-harm, with an IRR [95% CI] in the month following melatonin-treatment initiation of 0.46 [0.27–0.76] among adolescent females with psychiatric disorders, after excluding antidepressant users.
Conclusions
Decreased risk of intentional self-harm was observed following melatonin-treatment initiation among females with depression and anxiety, suggesting that sleep interventions could be considered in an effort to reduce risk of self-harm in this population.
