Nightmare Alarms Suicide Risk

Nightmares hold a haunting secret, for those who suffer them may bear the weight of a greater danger like suicide.

Highlights:

A recent study presented at SLEEP 2023 reveals a significant association between recurring nightmares and an increased risk of suicidality
The link between nightmares and suicidality remains strong even after adjusting for other factors such as sleep disturbances and trauma history
Underscoring the importance of addressing nightmares as a crucial component of suicide prevention strategies

Nightmares can be more than just bad dreams haunting our sleep. Startling new research presented at the 37th SLEEP 2023 annual meeting reveals a chilling connection between recurring nightmares and a higher risk of suicide.

This groundbreaking study, based on the Penn State Child Cohort, highlights the alarming truth that those plagued by persistent nightmares face a 29% increased likelihood of experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

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‘Individuals who reported nightmares were found to have a 29% higher rate of experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviors, emphasizing the gravity of this connection. #nightmare #suicide’

With the findings simultaneously published in the esteemed journal Sleep, it's clear that these nocturnal terrors demand our attention and urgent action ().

From Sleepless Nights to Silent Suffering

To investigate the connection between recurring nightmares and suicidality during young adulthood, researchers conducted a sub-analysis of the Penn State Child Cohort.

This cohort consisted of 700 children, originally recruited between the ages of 5 and 12, who were later examined during their adolescent and young adult years, ranging from 12 to 23 years of age.

For this particular study, 257 young adults from the Penn State Child Cohort who had completed follow-up visits approximately 16 years later were included. The participants self-reported their nightmares, and suicide risk was assessed using the MINI structured interview, Child Behavior Checklist Adult Self-Report, and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale.

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Out of the 257 participants, 109 individuals reported experiencing nightmares. The results revealed that the rate of suicidality was 29% higher among those who reported nightmares compared to a 14% increased risk among participants without nightmares.

Suicidality Increased to 46% Among Individuals Who Reported Moderate-to-Severe Nightmares

Among those who reported moderate-to-severe nightmares, the rate of suicidality further increased to 46%. After adjusting for factors such as sex, age, sleep duration, sleep disturbances, and history of trauma, individuals who reported nightmares were 2.3 times more likely to experience suicidality.

Additionally, those who reported moderate-to-severe nightmares were 6.1 times more likely to be at risk of suicide.

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This study underscores the significant link between nightmares and an increased risk of suicidality, independent of other factors such as sleep disturbances and trauma history.

It is crucial to inquire about a person's history of nightmares and assess their severity, especially among individuals exhibiting suicidal thoughts, as part of suicide prevention strategies. Psychotherapy and medications can be used to treat nightmares effectively.

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Reference:

0140 Nightmares are Associated with Increased Suicidality in Young Adulthood: A Population-based Cohort Study - (https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/46/Supplement_1/A63/7181781)

Source-Medindia