Nightmare frequency is a risk factor for suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Courtney J Bolstad, Brigitte Holzinger, Serena Scarpelli, Luigi De Gennaro, Juliana Yordanova, Silvia Koumanova, Sérgio Mota-Rolim, Christian Benedict, Bjørn Bjorvatn, Ngan Yin Chan, Frances Chung, Yves Dauvilliers, Colin A Espie, Yuichi Inoue, Maria Korman, Adrijana Koscec Bjelajac, Anne-Marie Landtblom, Kentaro Matsui, Ilona Merikanto, Charles M Morin, Markku Partinen, Thomas Penzel, Giuseppe Plazzi, Catia Reis, Biserka Ross, Yun Kwok Wing, Michael R Nadorff
Journal of Sleep Research October 1, 2024 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.14165 (opens in new tab) via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, suicidal ideation was 2% lower overall than before, while nightmare frequency increased by 4.50%. Data from 9328 individuals across 16 countries showed that suicidal ideation decreased significantly in Austria, Sweden, and Bulgaria but rose non-significantly in Italy and Portugal. Participants with long-COVID reported higher rates of suicidal ideation (21.10%) than those with short-COVID (12.40%), though ideation did not differ by COVID-19 history alone. Nightmare frequency was higher in those with prior COVID-19 (14.50% vs. 10.70%), during active infection (23.00% vs. 8.10%), and in long-COVID (18.00% vs. 8.50%). Frequent nightmares during the pandemic increased the odds of suicidal ideation (OR = 1.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 9,328 |
| Population | Individuals from 16 countries; 4848 women; mean age 46.85 years; 17.60% reported previous COVID-19 |
| Topics | Anxiety Depression PTSD |
| Keywords | Long‐covid Post‐covid |
| Key finding | Suicidal ideation was 2% lower during the pandemic than before, while nightmare frequency increased by 4.50%; frequent nightmares during the pandemic increased the likelihood of suicidal ideation (OR = 1.57), and frequent dream recall was protective (OR = 0.74). |
Abstract
The association between nightmare frequency (NMF) and suicidal ideation (SI) is well known, yet the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this relation is inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate changes in NMF, SI, and their association during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected in 16 countries using a harmonised questionnaire. The sample included 9328 individuals (4848 women; age M[SD] = 46.85 [17.75] years), and 17.60% reported previous COVID-19. Overall, SI was significantly 2% lower during the pandemic vs. before, and this was consistent across genders and ages. Most countries/regions demonstrated decreases in SI during this pandemic, with Austria (-9.57%), Sweden (-6.18%), and Bulgaria (-5.14%) exhibiting significant declines in SI, but Italy (1.45%) and Portugal (2.45%) demonstrated non-significant increases. Suicidal ideation was more common in participants with long-COVID (21.10%) vs. short-COVID (12.40%), though SI did not vary by COVID-19 history. Nightmare frequency increased by 4.50% during the pandemic and was significantly higher in those with previous COVID-19 (14.50% vs. 10.70%), during infection (23.00% vs. 8.10%), and in those with long-COVID (18.00% vs. 8.50%). The relation between NMF and SI was not significantly stronger during the pandemic than prior (rs = 0.18 vs. 0.14; z = 2.80). Frequent nightmares during the pandemic increased the likelihood of reporting SI (OR = 1.57, 95% CI 1.20-2.05), while frequent dream recall during the pandemic served a protective effect (OR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.59-0.94). These findings have important implications for identifying those at risk of suicide and may offer a potential pathway for suicide prevention.