Novel twin study reveals new direction for exploring paranoia and hallucinations during adolescence
Sleep disturbances and experiences of paranoia and hallucinations may maintain one another in a cyclical manner
Paranoia and hallucinations experienced during adolescence share genetic and environmental influences with sleep disturbance, a new study led by Birkbeck academics has discovered.
One of the hypotheses posited by the researchers is that sleep disturbances and experiences of paranoia and hallucinations may maintain one another in a cyclical manner.
The study, which was funded by the Medical Research Council, was led by members of Birkbeck’s Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, in collaboration with the Department of Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London, and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford.
It has recently been published in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology.
The researchers reached their findings via a pioneering study of adolescent twins. By studying the degree to which identical twins are similar to one another, and comparing this to the degree to which fraternal twins are similar to one another, they were able to discern that similar genetic and environmental influences underlie sleep disturbances and experiences of hallucination and paranoia.
Senior author Dr Angelica Ronald, of the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development at Birkbeck, said:
“While experiencing paranoia, hallucinations and sleep disturbances during adolescence can be a normal phase, it can be distressing and can sometimes be predictive of predisposition for later mental health problems.
“There is existing knowledge about genetic factors involved in sleep disturbances. Our study shows that these genetic influences also predispose individuals to feel paranoid and experience hallucinations in adolescence. “
The team of researchers suggest that future studies in this area could explore what exactly comprise the genetic and environmental influences that lead individuals to experience these disturbances.
Further, the researchers emphasise that just because genetic influences are important, this does not rule out environmental effects too. Moreover, it might be that treatments that are purely environmental, such as cognitive behavioural therapy for sleep disturbances, will have the knock-on effect of reducing or alleviating paranoia and hallucinations in adolescence.
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