Sleep Problems and Suicide Attempts Among Adolescents: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

This study used a case-control design to compare sleep disturbances in 40 adolescents who attempted suicide with 40 never-suicidal adolescents. Using hierarchical logistic regression analyses, we found that self-reported nighttime awakenings were significantly associated with attempted suicide, after controlling for antidepressant use, antipsychotic use, affective problems, and being bullied. In a separate regression analysis, the parent-reported total sleep problems score also predicted suicide attempt status, controlling for key covariates. No associations were found between suicide attempts and other distinct sleep problems, including falling asleep at bedtime, sleeping a lot during the day, trouble waking up in the morning, sleep duration, and parent-reported nightmares. Clinicians should be aware of sleep problems as potential risk factors for suicide attempts for adolescents.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors gratefully acknowledge the youths and parents who participated in this study and the staff of Community Behavioral Health Services at Nationwide Children's Hospital for their assistance with subject recruitment.

FUNDING

This work was supported by a grant from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and in part by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH-69948, MH-93552, J.A.B.). The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the National Institute of Mental Health did not participate in the design and conduct of the study, in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data, or in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a grant from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and in part by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health (MH-69948, MH-93552, J.A.B.). The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the National Institute of Mental Health did not participate in the design and conduct of the study, in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data, or in the preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.