Unpacking Sleep and Suicide in Older Adults in a Combined Online Sample.
Shea Golding, Michael R Nadorff, E Samuel Winer, Kathryn Claire Ward
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine December 15, 2015 DOI: 10.5664/jcsm.5270 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 167 |
| Population | Adults aged 55 and older in the United States |
| Keywords | Humans Risk assessment Risk factors Dreams Middle aged United states Female Surveys and questionnaires Nightmares Older adults Sleep disturbances Suicide risk Insomnia symptoms |
| Key findings | The duration of nightmares was associated with suicide risk in older adults, independent of current insomnia and nightmare symptoms, insomnia duration, PTSD, anhedonia, and the interpersonal psychological theory of suicide. The authors suggest that nightmare duration predicts substantial variance in suicide risk beyond typically examined risk factors, and that sleep dysfunction should be assessed when evaluating suicide risk in older adults. |
Abstract
Objective: Duration of insomnia symptoms and nightmares are related to suicidal risk in young adults independent of current symptoms of insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, depression, and PTSD. However, this relation has yet to be examined among older adults, despite older adults being at higher risk of suicidal behavior. Further, the current study aims to replicate previous research among younger adults showing that insomnia symptoms and nightmares are associated with suicide risk independent of the interpersonal psychological theory of suicide (IPTS).
Methods: The present study utilized 167 participants age 55 and older obtained by combining two independent mTurk data collections of adults in the United States.
Results: In the current sample, duration of nightmares was associated with suicide risk in older adults independent of symptoms of current insomnia and nightmares, duration of insomnia, and symptoms of PTSD, anhedonia, and the IPTS.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the duration of nightmares (i.e., how long someone has been experiencing nightmares) predict substantial variance in suicide risk among older adults in addition to the risk factors typically examined. Thus, assessment of sleep dysfunction is important when assessing suicide risk among older adults.
Citations in the library
Cited by 4
- The relationships between insomnia, nightmares, and dreams: A systematic review Sleep Medicine Reviews April 16, 2024
- Factor Analysis and Validation of the Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Index in an Inpatient Sample Behavioral Sleep Medicine February 25, 2024
- Psychometric properties of the Disturbing Dream and Nightmare Severity Index-Korean version. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine March 1, 2021
- Exploring Thematic Nightmare Content and Associated Self-Harm Risk. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior September 28, 2017
Cites 4
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