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Disturbed sleep may predict suicide risk

Objective measures of disturbed sleep predicted risk for suicidal ideation, regardless of depressive symptoms, according to recent findings.

“Suicide is the tragic outcome of psychiatric illness interacting with multiple biological, psychological and social risk factors,” Rebecca A. Bernert, PhD, of Stanford University School of Medicine, said in a press release. “Sleep disturbances stand apart from other risk factors because they are visible as a warning sign, yet nonstigmatizing and highly treatable. This is why we believe they may represent an important treatment target in suicide prevention.”

To determine if objective and subjective measures of disturbed sleep predicted risk for suicidal ideation in young adults, researchers conducted a longitudinal study among 4,847 individuals aged 18 to 23 years. Fifty participants were prescreened from a university undergraduate research pool due to suicide attempt history and recent suicidal ideation.

Mean actigraphy values indicated 78% of the cohort reported insomnia and 36% reported nightmares.

When controlling for baseline suicidal and depressive symptoms, actigraphic and subjective sleep measures predicted suicidal ideation at 7- and 21-day follow-up (P < .001).

Specifically, variability in sleep timing, insomnia and nightmares predicted increases in suicidal ideation (P < .05)

Analysis of competing risk factors indicated sleep variability was a stronger longitudinal predictor of suicidal ideation than depressive symptoms (P < .05).

“Treatments tested for suicidal behaviors are alarmingly scarce in comparison with need and remain mismatched to the acute nature of a suicidal crisis,” Bernert said in the release. “Compared to other risk factors for suicide, disturbed sleep is modifiable and highly treatable using brief, fast-acting interventions. Because sleep is something we universally experience, and we may be more willing to openly talk about it relative to our mental health, we believe its study may represent an important opportunity for suicide prevention.” – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.