Relationship between Sleep Problems and Self-Injury: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

Objective/Background: Previous studies suggested that sleep problems were related to non-suicidal self-injury. The current systematic review investigated more thoroughly this relationship.

Methods: PubMED and Embase databases were searched. The keywords were “self-injury” OR “self-harm” OR “non-suicidal self-injury” OR “self-injurious behavior” OR “self-destructive behavior” OR “self-mutilation” AND “sleep problem” OR “sleep disturbance” OR insomnia OR nightmare OR “poor sleep quality” or “sleep disorders.” A total of 16 studies were included in the present review.

Results: The pattern of results indicated that sleep problems such as short sleep duration, sleep disturbances, and poor sleep quality were associated with non-suicidal self-injury. Additionally, emotional dysregulation, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder appeared to mediate this relationship. Above all adolescents and young adults with sleep disruptions were at higher risk of non-suicidal self-injury.

Conclusions:g Interventions to improve sleep quality and sleep duration might concomitantly decrease the risk of non-suicidal self-injury.

Acknowledgments

We thank Habib Nobakht for his helpful comments. Further, we thank Nick Emler (University of Surrey, Surrey UK) for proofreading the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

Dr McCall receives royalties from Wolters Kluwer, and research support from Vistagen, Otsuka, Merck, and MECTA. He is a scientific advisor for Jazz, Sage, and Janssen.

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully thank the Iran National Science Foundation, Iran and Research Council of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Iran for their financial support