SLEEP DISTURBANCE AND SUBSEQUENT SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS IN PREADOLESCENCE

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SLEEP PROBLEMS AND SUICIDE RISK?

preadolescents and an increased risk of suicide in early adolescence. The research tracked over 8.800 children, aged 9 to 10, who had no history of suicidal ideation, following them for two years to assess how sleep disturbances, including nightmares and daytime sleepiness, contribute to the development of suicidal thoughts.

The researchers used the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire, a tool that allows parents to report their children's sleep issues, and the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS) to identify suicidal thoughts or attempts. The results were clear: children with frequent nightmares were 74% more likely to develop suicidal thoughts by the age of 12, and those with daily nightmares had a risk of suicide attempts up to five times higher.

In addition to nightmares, excessive daytime sleepiness was also a significant factor in the risk of suicide. The study adjusted the results for other factors, such as childhood depression and anxiety, family history of mood disorders, and parental monitoring levels.

This study highlights sleep disorders in childhood as an important and modifiable indicator of suicide risk in adolescence. Interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or imagery rehearsal therapy for nightmares could be key in preventing suicidal behavior in children, emphasizing the importance of identifying and addressing these problems early.

These findings reveal that something as everyday as sleep can become a decisive factor in protecting adolescents' lives.

Reference:

Gowin, J. L., Stoddard, J., Doykos, T. K., Sammel, M. D., & Bernert, R. A. (2024). Sleep Disturbance and Subsequent Suicidal Behaviors in Preadolescence. JAMA network open, 7(9), e2433734. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.33734