The association of amygdala-insula functional connectivity and adolescent e-cigarette use via sleep problems and depressive symptoms.

Introduction:
This text summarizes a scientific study that investigates the relationship between sleep problems, depressive symptoms, and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use in adolescents. The study used a longitudinal design to examine these relationships over a 15-month period.

Key Points:

* The study included a sample of 146 adolescents who completed questionnaires and a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan at two time points.
* The questionnaires assessed sleep problems, depressive symptoms, and e-cigarette use. The fMRI scans measured resting-state functional connectivity between the laterobasal amygdala and ventral insula (lbaMY-vI) and between the laterobasal amygdala and dorsal insula (lbaMY-dI).
* The results showed that higher lbaMY-vI rsFC was associated with more sleep problems, which in turn were linked with greater depressive symptoms and more days of e-cigarette use.
* however, there was no significant indirect effect between lbaMY-dI rsFC and e-cigarette use via sleep problems and depression.
* The study also found that the indirect effect of lbaMY-vI rsFC on e-cigarette use via sleep problems and depression was specific to the anterior insula ventral subregion and not the anterior insula dorsal subregion.
* The study controlled for potential confounding variables such as age, sex, ethnicity, lifetime e-cigarette use, and mean framewise displacement.
* The study's findings suggest that altered lbaMY-vI rsFC may contribute to sleep problems, which may increase depressive symptoms and e-cigarette use in adolescents.

Main Message:
The study provides evidence for a neurobiological pathway that links sleep problems, depressive symptoms, and e-cigarette use in adolescents. The findings suggest that interventions that target sleep hygiene may have utility in reducing e-cigarette use in this population. The study also highlights the importance of considering neurobiological factors when developing interventions for adolescent substance use. Overall, the study contributes to our understanding of the complex relationships between sleep, mood, and substance use in adolescents and has important implications for prevention and intervention efforts.

Sutherland BD, Viera Perez PM, Crooks KE, et al. The association of amygdala-insula functional connectivity and adolescent e-cigarette use via sleep problems and depressive symptoms. addictive behaviors. 2022;135:107458. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107458