Association between short sleep and suicidal ideation and suicide attempt among adults in the general population.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association between sleep, mental disorders, and suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempt (SA) among adults in the community.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
National Comorbidity Survey (n = 8098).


METHODS
A representative sample of adults in the United States.


RESULTS
Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between usual number of hours of sleep during a 24-h period and SI and SA (past 12 months and lifetime). Analyses were adjusted for differences in demographic characteristics and comorbid mental disorders. Additional analyses examined the relationship between hours of sleep and the odds of SA among adults with SI, compared with SI without SA. Short sleep was associated with significantly increased odds of SI (OR 2.5, 95% CI: 1.6-3.9) and SA (OR 3.0, 95% CI: 1.4-6.4), and with SA among those with SI (past 12 months). These associations persisted after adjusting for differences in demographic characteristics and mental disorders, though the links between short sleep and SA among those with SI were no longer statistically significant after adjusting for panic, mood, and substance use disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
Short sleep appears to be associated with increased likelihood of SI and SA, independent of the effects of comorbid mental disorders, among adults in the community. Among adults with SI, short sleep is associated with increased odds of SA, and this association seems largely related to the presence of panic attacks, mood, and substance use disorders. Future studies should investigate the nature of these relationships, and whether and how mental health problems may play a role.
Goodwin
Renee D
RD
Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. rdg66@columbia.edu
Marusic
Andrej
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012892:Sleep Deprivation / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000401:mortality* / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult