If you're a student and dealing with depression or anxiety, you might be more likely to quit group therapy. But if you're taking sleep meds, you're more likely to stick with it.

What we've found so far is that being a student may make someone less likely to stay in group therapy for depression and anxiety, while taking sleep medication may increase the chances of staying in treatment [1]. Our analysis of the available research shows this pattern, based on the evidence we’ve reviewed. We looked at one key assertion from the data, which suggests two different factors affect therapy attendance in opposite ways. On one hand, students dealing with depression or anxiety might be more likely to drop out of group therapy [1]. We don’t have details on why, but this could relate to the demands of school, irregular schedules, or other stressors common in student life. On the other hand, people who are taking sleep medication appear more likely to stick with group therapy [1]. This might mean that better sleep supports consistency in treatment, but we can’t say for sure based on this evidence alone. The data we’ve analyzed so far includes 70.0 supporting points and no studies or assertions that contradict this pattern [1]. Still, we’re working with limited information—only one assertion was reviewed. That means our current understanding is narrow, and new evidence could change how we see this over time. We don’t know yet how strong these effects are, or whether other factors like age, therapy type, or mental health severity play a role. There’s also no information on which sleep medications were involved, or how sleep quality itself might influence therapy attendance. Our current analysis shows a trend: students may need extra support to stay in therapy, while those on sleep meds may have an unseen advantage in treatment continuity [1]. But since this is based on a single assertion, we can’t draw firm conclusions. Practical takeaway: If you’re a student starting group therapy, it might help to plan around your schedule and seek support if staying on track feels hard. If sleep is a struggle, talking to a healthcare provider could be useful—not just for sleep, but possibly for staying engaged in therapy too.