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April 16, 2009
Study indicates adults who suffer chronic sleep problems may be more likely to attempt suicide
BBC News (4/1) reports that, according to a study to be presented at a psychiatric association meeting, "adults who suffer chronic sleep problems may be more likely to try to commit suicide."
For the study, "a University of Michigan team examined the relationship over one year between sleep problems and suicidal behavior in 5,692 Americans." Next, the researchers examined "three types of sleep problems -- difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and waking at least two hours earlier than desired," taking into account "factors, such as substance abuse, depression, anxiety disorder, and physical illness, as well as social factors, such as marriage and financial status."
The investigators found that "people with two or more symptoms of insomnia were 2.6 times more likely to report a suicide attempt than those whose sleep was not disturbed," with "early morning waking" being "the single trait most strongly linked to suicidal behavior."
Posted by admin at April 16, 2009 03:20 PM