FLORENCE, Italy, Apr 1, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- A U.S. study found the more
types of sleep disturbances people had, the more likely they were to have
thoughts of killing themselves or attempting suicide.
Study author Dr. Marcin Wojnar of the University of Michigan and the University
of Warsaw in Poland said that identifying those at high risk of suicide is
important in preventing it and these findings indicate that insomnia may be a
modifiable risk factor for suicide in the general population.
"This has implications for public health as the presence of sleep problems
should alert doctors to assess such patients for a heightened risk of suicide
even if they don't have a psychiatric condition," Wojnar said in a statement.
The scientists examined the relationship over one year between three
characteristics of insomnia -- difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying
asleep and waking at least two hours earlier than desired -- and three suicidal
behaviors -- suicidal thoughts, planning and attempts -- of 5,692 Americans.
About 35 percent of those studied reported experiencing at least one type of
sleep disturbance in the preceding 12 months.
The most consistent link was seen for early morning awakening, which was related
to all suicidal behaviors. People with this problem were twice as likely as
those with no sleep problems to have had suicidal thoughts in the preceding 12
months, 2.1 times more likely to have planned suicide and 2.7 times more likely
to have tried to kill themselves.
The findings are being presented at the World Psychiatric Association
international congress.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International