The link between suicide and insomnia: theoretical mechanisms.
Insomnia has been established as a risk factor for depression and mental illness for decades, but a growing body of evidence has recently exposed insomnia to be an independent risk factor for suicide that encompasses all age ranges. This discovery has invigorated investigation to elucidate the relationship between insomnia and suicide, and over 20 studies reinforcing this association in adults have been published since 2010 alone. This article analyzes relevant research and emphasizes studies published within the last three years with the intent of proposing theoretical mechanisms explaining the link between suicide and insomnia. These mechanisms may then be used as targets for future investigation of treatment.
Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior, Medical College of Georgia, Georgia Regents University, 997 St. Sebastian Way, Augusta, GA 30912, USA. wmccall@gru.edu
W Vaughn
WV
McCall
Carmen G
CG
Black
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004325:Dreams / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012701:Serotonin / Q000502:physiology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology*; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology*
D012701:Serotonin