Insomnia symptoms and suicidality in the National Comorbidity Survey - Adolescent Supplement

Efficacy of brief behavioral and sleep hygiene education with mindfulness intervention on sleep, social jetlag and mental health in adolescence: a pilot study

OBJECTIVES

Sleep is often compromised in adolescents, affecting their health and quality of life. This pilot-study was conducted to evaluate if implementing brief-behavioral and sleep-hygiene education with mindfulness intervention may positively affect sleep-health in adolescents.

METHOD

Participants in this community-based non-randomized cohort-study volunteered for intervention (IG)- or control-group (CG). Sleep was recorded during regular school-schedule for 3-school-nights and 2-non-school-nights with an FDA-cleared/EU-Medical Device Regulation (CE-2862) compliant home sleep test, and Questionnaires were utilized to evaluate chronotype, sleepiness, insomnia-, anxiety- and depression-symptoms. The four-week intervention included sleep-hygiene education, mindfulness- and breathing-practices for one-hour, twice weekly. Data was collected during the last-week of February and first two-weeks of March 2023 and repeated after intervention.

RESULTS

Fifty-five participants completed the study, IG (86%) and CG (77%). Average age was 17.3-years and prevalence of severe social-jetlag (SJL) 72%. Participants who quit participation (n = 10) after baseline data-collection all females (3-IG/7-CG) in comparison to participants who completed the study were sleepier than the IG and CG (+ 2.6-p = 0.04; + 3.8-p = 0.001), with more symptoms of insomnia- (+ 3.8-p = 0.002; + 4.7-p < 0.0001), and depression (+ 16.7-p < 0.0001; + 19.6-p < 0.0001), and report being later-chronotypes, (-18.2, p < 0.0001;-13.1, p < 0.0001). On average the IG advanced sleep-onset (32-min; p = 0.030), decreased SJL (37-min; p = 0.011) and increased total sleep time (TST, 29-min; p = 0.088) compared to the CG. Average sleep duration did not differ significantly comparing IG and CG after intervention. Stratifying participants with severe SJL (> 2-h) at baseline; 1) responders (61%) advanced sleep-onset on non-school-nights (96-min) and decreased SJL (103-min; p < 0.001) 2) non-responders (39%) increased sleep-duration on school-nights (36-min) and non-school-nights (63-min) but maintained severe-SJL.

CONCLUSION

Teacher-lead sleep-education and mindfulness program can improve TST and SJL in adolescence.

Psychiatric comorbidities and prescribing tendencies of sleep medications and related medications in young people with insomnia: a United States commercial claims-based analysis

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To characterize children and youth newly diagnosed with insomnia and to describe their use of sleep and other related prescription medications.

METHODS

Within a commercial claims database (January 1, 2016-December 31, 2021), we identified children and youth (2-24 years) with a newly recorded insomnia diagnosis (G47.0x; F51.0x) and examined psychiatric diagnoses in the prior 6 months. We evaluated sleep and related prescription medications dispensed in the week after new insomnia diagnoses (i.e. trazodone, other antidepressants, hydroxyzine, alpha-agonists, benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepine hypnotics "z-drugs," antipsychotics, and others). Analyses were stratified by age and psychiatric comorbidities.

RESULTS

Among 68 698 children and 108 118 older youth (18-24 years) with a new insomnia diagnosis, three-quarters had a diagnosed comorbid psychiatric condition; anxiety disorders, depression, and ADHD were the most common. Among those without comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, 20.2% of children and 37.4% of older youth had a sleep or related medication dispensed in the following week. In children without a comorbid psychiatric diagnosis, alpha-agonists, hydroxyzine, and trazodone were the most common medications; in older youth, trazodone was the most common medication followed by hydroxyzine, z-drugs, and SSRIs. Sleep and related prescription medications were more commonly dispensed to those with psychiatric comorbidities. From 2017 to 2021, there was an increase in hydroxyzine prescriptions following a new insomnia diagnosis and decline in z-drug and benzodiazepine prescriptions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings from a nationwide sample of young people with insomnia highlight the high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidities and variety of sleep and related medications they receive. Characterizing prescribing tendencies informs guideline development and future research.

Healthcare Utilization, Physical and Psychiatric Comorbidities Before Self-Injurious Behavior in Patients with Asthma: A Nested Case-Control Study

Background

Patients with asthma experience more physical, psychological, and financial burdens; a link between asthma and suicidality has been reported in research.

Purpose

This study analyzed the medical utilization and comorbidity before their self-injurious behavior in patients with asthma.

Methods

We enrolled 186,862 patients newly diagnosed with asthma between 1999 and 2013 from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. A total of 500 case subjects had ever conducted self-injurious behaviors during the study period. Based on a nested case-control study, each case was matched with 10 controls derived from the asthma cohort to analyze differences between them and their medical use models.

Results

The results indicated that, compared to the control group, the cases presented higher frequencies of outpatient visits and hospitalizations. Regarding comorbidity, the cases had more cardiovascular diseases (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=1.58; p<0.001), bipolar disorder (aOR=2.97; p<0.001), depression (aOR=4.44; p<0.001), and sleep disorder (aOR=1.83; p<0.001) than the controls.

Conclusion

The evidence-based information serves as a reference for medical staff to reduce the occurrence of self-injurious behavior in patients with asthma.

Sleep and circadian rhythms in adolescents with attempted suicide

Sleep and circadian rhythm disorders are very common in adolescents and have been linked to suicidal ideation. However, little is known about adolescent sleep before a suicide attempt (SA). The objectives of this study were to compare the sleep of adolescents aged 13 to 18 over a period of 4 weeks before a SA compared to a non-SA group, then to analyze the association between sleep, support social and well-being based on information from validated questionnaires. In 2015, 250 adolescents were included, 55 were recruited the day after a SA in French hospitals (before SA evaluations were retrospective). Logistic regression analyzes showed that during school days, bedtime was equivalent in both groups, but sleep onset latency was significantly longer in SA (86 min vs. 52 min, p = 0.016), and wake-up time was earlier (6 h 22 vs. 6 h 47, p = 0.002), resulting in a shorter total sleep time of 44 min (OR = 0.76, CI 95% [0.61-0.93]) the month preceding SA. Adolescents with longer sleep time performed better on perceived psychological well-being (p = 0.005), relationship with parents (p = 0.011) and school environment (p < 0.001). Results indicate a significant change in the quantity and quality of adolescents' subjective sleep in the 4 weeks preceding SA requiring objective measures to study the predictive properties of sleep in SA.

Classification and Epidemiology of Sleep Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Sleep disturbances are common in children and adolescents but still remain unrecognized and undertreated. Several classification systems of sleep disorders are available, which include recent attempts to develop more specific nosologic categories that reflect developmental aspects of sleep. The prevalence of sleep disorders has been studied across various samples of healthy, typically developing children and those with special medical, psychiatric, and neurodevelopmental needs. Sleep disorders are highly prevalent in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders, making it important for mental health professionals to be aware of sleep problems and to address them in the context of psychiatric comorbidities.

A pooled analysis of temporal trends in the prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss among adolescents aged 12-15 years across 29 countries

Background

Previous studies examining trends in sleep loss among adolescents have mainly focused on single countriy and region. This study aims to analyze temporal trends in the prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss among adolescents from 29 countries in five regions.

Methods

This study used data from the Global School-based Student Health Survey 2003-2018, which surveyed 215,380 adolescents from 29 countries with at least two cross-sectional surveys per country. The weighted country-specific prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss and trends across the survey years were evaluated. Random- or fixed-effects meta-analyses were used to calculate pooled prevalence and temporal trends across 29 countries.

Results

Temporal variations in anxiety-induced sleep loss across countries were identified. Increasing (Suriname, Vanuatu, and Myanmar), decreasing (Namibia, Jamaica, the Philippines, Samoa, and Indonesia), and stable (all other countries) trends in anxiety-induced sleep loss were noted. The pooled weighted prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss was 11.35 and 10.67% in the first and last surveys, respectively. There was no meaningful change in the propensity to have anxiety-related sleep disorders over time, with the reduction and OR of these two surveys being 0.54 (-0.53-1.61) and 0.98 (0.88-1.10). For subgroup analyses, no significant differences in pooled anxiety-induced sleep loss trends were seen between the two surveys for different sexes, regions, incomes, survey years in the first wave, survey periods, or number of surveys.

Conclusion

Trends in the prevalence of anxiety-induced sleep loss in adolescents varied significantly across different countries. Generally, a stable trend was observed in 21 of the 29 countries surveyed. Our study provides data that can aid policymakers in establishing country-specific strategies for reducing anxiety-induced sleep loss in adolescents.

Population-attributable risk of psychiatric disorders for suicide among adolescents and young adults in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Youth suicide rates have increased markedly in some countries. This study aimed to estimate the population-attributable risk of psychiatric disorders associated with suicide among Taiwanese youth aged 10-24 years.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the National Death Registry and National Health Insurance (NHI) claims database between 2007 and 2019. Youth who died by suicide were included, and comparisons, 1:10 matched by age and sex, were randomly selected from the Registry for NHI beneficiaries. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate suicide odds ratios for psychiatric disorders. The population-attributable fractions (PAF) were calculated for each psychiatric disorder.

RESULTS

A total of 2345 youth suicide and 23 450 comparisons were included. Overall, 44.8% of suicides had a psychiatric disorder, while only 7.9% of the comparisons had a psychiatric disorder. The combined PAF for all psychiatric disorders was 55.9%. The top three psychiatric conditions of the largest PAFs were major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and sleep disorder. In the analysis stratified by sex, the combined PAF was 45.5% for males and 69.2% for females. The PAF among young adults aged 20-24 years (57.0%) was higher than among adolescents aged 10-19 years (48.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings of high PAF from major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and sleep disorder to youth suicides suggest that youth suicide prevention that focuses on detecting and treating mental illness may usefully target these disorders.

Psychotic-Like Experiences and Suicidal Ideation Among Adolescents: The Chain Mediating Role of Insomnia Symptoms and Resilience

Background

Individuals who experience psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) are at significant risk of suicide-related behaviors. This two-wave longitudinal study aimed to investigate the relationships among PLEs, insomnia symptoms, resilience, and suicidal ideation (SI) among adolescents.

Methods

A total of 2231 college students [mean age (standard deviation) = 20.02 (1.39) years] completed two web-based surveys. Participants completed self-report measures of sample characteristics, PLEs, insomnia symptoms, resilience, and SI.

Results

The findings indicated a significantly positive correlation between PLEs and SI that was sequentially mediated by insomnia symptoms and resilience. Furthermore, insomnia symptoms and resilience played a chain-mediating role between PLEs and adolescent SI.

Conclusion

These findings suggest potential mechanism for the PLEs-SI link, which helps us better understand how PLEs can influence individual SI and provides important information for early prevention.

Mediation effect of insomnia symptoms between positive psychotic like experiences and suicidal ideation among Lebanese young adults

BACKGROUND

Psychotic symptoms reported by healthy individuals in the general population are referred to as psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) and have been proven to increase the risk of suicidal ideation (SI) in these individuals. As it is well established that PLEs and insomnia share a bidirectional association and also that insomnia is linked to SI, we hypothesized that insomnia may represent a mediator underlying the relationship between PLEs and SI. Our aim was to validate this hypothesis among Lebanese young adults.

METHODS

A total of 3103 young adults (mean age 21.73 ± 3.80 years; 63.6% females) recruited from all Lebanese governorates completed a self-administered online questionnaire. PLEs were assessed using the CAPE-42 scale, SI using the Columbia Suicide Rating Scale, and insomnia using the Insomnia Severity Index). We conducted a mediation analysis using SPSS PROCESS v3.4 model 4 with three pathways. Variables that showed a p < 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were entered in the path analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1378 participants (44.4%) had insomnia; 18.8% had SI; 42.5% reported at least one positive PE 'nearly always', and 30.5% reported at least one negative PE with this frequency. The results of the mediation analysis showed that insomnia severity partially mediated the association between positive dimension and SI; higher positive dimension was significantly associated with more insomnia severity, which was, in turn, significantly associated with more SI. Finally, more positive dimension was significantly and directly associated with more SI.

CONCLUSION

These preliminary findings might encourage the implementation of new preventive measures to reduce SI among PLEs patients. Treating symptoms of insomnia might help reduce the risk of suicide.

Sleep Deprivation and Insomnia in Adolescence: Implications for Mental Health

Sleep changes significantly throughout the human lifespan. Physiological modifications in sleep regulation, in common with many mammals (especially in the circadian rhythms), predispose adolescents to sleep loss until early adulthood. Adolescents are one-sixth of all human beings and are at high risk for mental diseases (particularly mood disorders) and self-injury. This has been attributed to the incredible number of changes occurring in a limited time window that encompasses rapid biological and psychosocial modifications, which predispose teens to at-risk behaviors. Adolescents’ sleep patterns have been investigated as a biunivocal cause for potential damaging conditions, in which insufficient sleep may be both a cause and a consequence of mental health problems. The recent COVID-19 pandemic in particular has made a detrimental contribution to many adolescents’ mental health and sleep quality. In this review, we aim to summarize the knowledge in the field and to explore implications for adolescents’ (and future adults’) mental and physical health, as well as to outline potential strategies of prevention.

Risk profiles of suicide attempts among girls with histories of commercial sexual exploitation: A latent class analysis

BACKGROUND

Girls impacted by commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) in the juvenile legal system are three times more likely to have suicide attempts than girls without histories of exploitation. Yet, research on risk profiles and correlates that contribute to elevated suicide risk among girls with CSE histories remains scant.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to examine suicide attempts profiles among CSE-impacted girls in the juvenile legal system.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

We partnered with a specialty court for CSE-impacted youth in Los Angeles County.

METHODS

Data were collected from case files of the 360 girls participating in the court from 2012 to 2016. Latent class analysis was used to identify their profiles of risk indicators.

RESULTS

Four risk profiles for suicide attempts emerged: (1) Parental Incarceration (PI; 30 %), (2) Child Welfare Contact (CWC; 25 %), (3) Disruptive Behavior and Sleep Problems (DBS; 25 %), and (4) Pervasive Risk (PR; 22 %). Among youth in the PI group, 5 % had a suicide attempt; however, contrary to our hypothesis, no youth in the CWC group had a suicide attempt. Rates of suicide attempt were significantly higher among youth in the DBS group, as 14 % had a suicide attempt. As hypothesized, youth in the PR were associated with higher risk of suicide attempts, with 28 % reporting a prior suicide attempt.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings underscore the need for standardized suicide screenings and treatment referrals for girls with CSE histories and suggest an important opportunity for multidisciplinary collaboration with courts to improve suicide prevention strategies. The present study also supports the importance of examining risk across the socioecological context.

Analyzing sleep status in children with acute leukemia

BACKGROUND

Quality sleep is essential for physical and mental health. We aimed to analyze sleep disorders in children with acute leukemia and explore associated factors.

METHODS

General data and sleep disorders in children with acute leukemia during chemotherapy were collected by general questionnaires, Children's Sleep Disorders Scale and the Parenting Stress Index-short form.

RESULTS

In total, 173 valid questionnaires were collected. The total Sleep Disorder Scale score > 39 is considered a sleep disorder, while sleep disorders accounted for 45.66% (79/173). In the cohort, 167 children had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, with 40.12% (67/167) having sleep disorders, while six children had acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia, with 50.00% (3/6) having sleep disorders. Single- and multi-factor regression analyses of age, gender, number of children in the family, and time spent using electronic devices showed that factors influencing sleep disorders in these children were mainly parental scolding and adenoid hypertrophy. Children with sleep disorders had more parental stress than those without sleep disorders (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The high incidence of sleep disorders in children with acute leukemia is related to airway conditions and parental behaviors. Sleep disorders in children can increase parenting stress. Factors potentially affecting sleep quality should be addressed as early as possible, while parental education should be strengthened to better facilitate the physical and psychological recovery of their children.

Early childhood sleep problems predict increased risk for the later development of suicidal thoughts

Suicidal thoughts and behaviors in youth are an escalating and immediate public health concern. To better understand youth suicidal thoughts and behaviors, it is important to identify risk factors in early childhood that predict the later emergence of youth suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Research with adults and adolescents has identified sleep disturbances as a risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, but this has yet to be examined in early childhood. Using a prospective, 17-year longitudinal design, the current study explored the association between early childhood sleep disturbances and concurrent and later suicidal thoughts and behaviors (in separate models) across childhood and adolescence. Results indicate that sleep problems in early childhood are associated with increased probability for suicidal thoughts after age 8, even when controlling for prior and concurrent depression severity. Our findings suggest that early childhood sleep difficulties warrant increased clinical attention and management, as they may contribute to the maintenance and exacerbation of suicidal thoughts over time. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Association of Benzodiazepine Treatment for Sleep Disorders With Drug Overdose Risk Among Young People

IMPORTANCE

Benzodiazepines are prescribed for the treatment of adolescent sleep disorders; however, benzodiazepine overdoses occur, often in combination with opioids.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether benzodiazepine treatment for sleep disorders, compared with alternative pharmacologic treatments (trazodone, hydroxyzine, zolpidem, zaleplon, and eszopiclone), is associated with increased risk of drug overdose for young people.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This cohort study included privately insured people 10 to 29 years of age identified from a US commercial claims database (MarketScan), from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2018. Young people with a sleep disorder diagnosis initiating benzodiazepine (n = 23 084) or comparator pharmacologic treatments (n = 66 706) were included in the study. Statistical analysis was performed from November 1, 2021, to May 16, 2022.

EXPOSURES

New use of benzodiazepine treatment or comparator pharmacologic treatments (defined as ≥1 year without a prescription for benzodiazepine or comparator medications).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Incident diagnosed drug overdoses were identified from inpatient and emergency department records within 6 months of treatment initiation. The propensity score-adjusted cumulative incidence of overdose and hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated with intention-to-treat (analyzed based on initial treatment) and as-treated analyses (added censoring at treatment discontinuation). Results were stratified by prior prescription opioid fill.

RESULTS

The cohort included 23 084 young people initiating benzodiazepine treatment (14 444 female participants [62.6%]; mean [SD] age, 23 [4.1] years) and 66 706 initiating a comparator treatment (38 446 female participants [57.6%]; mean [SD] age, 22 [4.4] years). Six months after treatment initiation, 9.7% (95% CI, 9.3%-10.1%) of benzodiazepine users and 12.3% (95% CI, 12.1%-12.6%) of the comparator group were still receiving treatment. The crude incidence of drug overdose at 6 months was 0.9% for benzodiazepine initiators and 0.8% for comparator treatment initiators. In adjusted analyses, an increased risk of drug overdose was associated with benzodiazepines vs comparator treatments (intention-to-treat analysis: HR, 1.25 [95% CI, 1.03-1.51]; as-treated analysis: HR, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.14-1.80]). This association was stronger among young people with a recent prescription opioid fill vs those without a recent prescription opioid fill (as-treated analysis: adjusted HR, 2.01 [95% CI, 1.24-3.25] vs adjusted HR, 1.31 [95% CI, 1.00-1.70]).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The findings of this study suggest that benzodiazepines, compared with alternative pharmacologic treatments for common sleep disorders, were associated with an increased risk of drug overdose among young people during the following 6-month period, especially among those with a recent opioid prescription. Drug overdose is an important safety consideration when treating young people with benzodiazepines.

The Moderating Role of Stress Response on the Relationship Between Subjective Sleep Quality and Suicide Ideation in Adolescence

OBJECTIVE

Problems sleeping and stress are known to contribute to the development of suicide ideation. However, it is unclear how these risk factors interact longitudinally. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of problems sleeping on the development of suicide ideation in adolescence one year later and how the relationship changes with the addition of stress as a moderator.

METHOD

Data were collected from 153 adolescents (M age = 12.8, SD = 1.6) over three years as part of a larger study. Participants completed the MINI-Kid and Youth Self-Report, which were used to assess for suicidality. The Stress scale of the YSR was used to measure stress. Participants also completed the Adolescent Sleep Wake Scale, which was used to assess their perceptions of their sleep quality.

RESULTS

Logistic moderation analyses demonstrated a significant interaction between ASWS and YSR Stress in the prediction of suicide ideation one year later, Wald χ²(1)=4.57, OR = 0.68, p < 0.05. Results demonstrated higher odds of endorsing SI as stress increased when sleep quality was poor (OR = 21.51) compared to when sleep quality was high (OR = 4.03), suggesting that adequate sleep may act as a protective factor against suicide ideation.

CONCLUSIONS

The results are indicative of long-term consequences of sleep on adolescent mental health, particularly when faced with high levels of stress. These results may have significant clinical implications for suicide prevention efforts as this relationship may help identify at-risk adolescents prior to the initial experience of suicide ideation.

Persistent suicidal ideation in a large intensive outpatient adolescent population sample: A preliminary report on the role of sleep disturbance

Sleep disturbance is a unique, yet understudied, risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). The present study sought to explore the relationship between suicidal ideation (SI) and self-reported sleep disturbance in a sample of adolescents in an intensive outpatient program targeting suicidality (N = 691). Analyses conducted include paired samples t tests, multiple linear regression, and analysis of variance to examine group differences in sleep disturbance over time. Sleep disturbance and SI were associated at each timepoint, and sleep disturbance at admission predicted SI at discharge. Those with the most severe SI at discharge indicated increased sleep disturbance relative to admission, whereas those reporting no SI at discharge nearly resolved all sleep difficulties. Future studies should utilize objective sleep measures, longitudinal assessments, and include a more diverse sample to better inform the relationship of sleep and SI. These findings suggest that directly managing sleep disturbance during treatment could decrease the risk of STBs.

A Comprehensive Review of the Literature on Sleep Difficulties and Suicidality in Youth to Inform an Integrative Developmental Model and Future Directions

Purpose of Review

Suicide is currently the second leading cause of death among youth. Identification of modifiable near-term risk factors can inform suicide prevention strategies. One promising, readily assessed factor is sleep. We critically review the literature on sleep and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among youth.

Recent Findings

Most studies examining the youth sleep-suicidality relationship are from epidemiological samples in which both sleep problems and suicidality were assessed over variable timeframes using limited items from scales not designed to measure these constructs. Nonetheless, these data overwhelmingly support an association between suicidality and a range of sleep difficulties (e.g., insomnia, short/long sleep, weekend oversleep), above and beyond depressive symptoms. Limited studies include clinical samples or prospective designs. We review potential mechanisms and present a developmentally-informed integrative model.

Summary

Literature supports a clear association between sleep difficulties and youth suicidality. Future directions include prospective longitudinal studies and targeted prevention efforts.

Differentiating the associations between sleep quality and suicide behaviors: A population-based study in China

BACKGROUND

Although the association between sleep problems and suicidal behaviors were found in many studies, their associations are not built until now. One of the reasons may be the identified differences among different suicide behaviors, which also implied that sleep quality may play different roles on these suicidal behaviors. However, absent study explores the possible distinguishing associations between sleep quality and different suicidal behaviors.

METHODS

This is a population-based study conducted in Hebei province, China. Totally, 21,376 valid questionnaires were analyzed in this study. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate sleep quality. Suicidal behaviors, living alone, and social-demographic variables were assessed for all the participants.

RESULTS

The prevalence of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt were 1.4%, 0.3%, and 0.2%, respectively. The PSQI scores were separately associated with suicidal ideation (OR=1.25, p<0.001), plan (OR=1.19, p<0.001), and attempt (OR=1.18, p<0.001). The similar results were also supported when we compared conditional suicidal behaviors with general population without any suicidal behaviors. However, when we compared suicide attempters with suicidal ideators (with or without suicide plan), the associations between PSQI scores and suicide attempt were not supported (OR=1.93, P>0.05 or OR=1.02, p>0.05).

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional design made us cannot get any causal relationships. The self-reported sleep quality may also produce some influence on the results.

CONCLUSION

The results imply us that improving sleep quality may be not effective to control further suicidal behaviors, when people have considered or planned to suicide. The findings also can be translated into the clinical and preventive practice for suicide control.

Insomnia in survivors 8.5 years after the Utøya Island terrorist attack: transition from late adolescence to early adulthood - the Utøya study

BACKGROUND

Insomnia is a global health concern, associated with many mental and physical health conditions. Prevalence of insomnia is reported to increase during adolescence and early adulthood. High levels of insomnia are also reported in adolescents up to 2.5 years after a traumatic event. What is less well understood is the prevalence of insomnia in a trauma exposed population transitioning from adolescence to adulthood.

OBJECTIVE

To assess insomnia in the survivors in the 2011 Utøya Island terrorist attack, 2.5 years and 8.5 years after the attack when the majority of survivors were transitioning from late adolescence to early adulthood.

METHOD

Participants were 336 survivors of the Utøya Island attack who completed the Utøya Study 2.5 years (T3) and 8.5 years (T4) after the attack. Participants completed a face-to-face interview including the Bergen Insomnia Scale (BIS), which was used to assess insomnia symptoms and prevalence of meeting diagnostic criteria for insomnia.

RESULTS

Insomnia was indicated in 47.7% of survivors 8.5 years after the attack. Insomnia prevalence did not significantly change from 2.5 to 8.5 years after the attack, though insomnia symptoms (BIS sum score) were found to increase. Age was negatively associated with insomnia at T4, with older age being associated with less insomnia. No significant sex difference was found in insomnia prevalence at T4.

CONCLUSION

Almost a decade after the Utøya Island terrorist attack, nearly a half of the young survivors in our study reported insomnia and typical age- and sex-related differences in sleep were not always seen. This rate is almost double what is reported in the general population (20-30%) indicating a high level of unmet need in this population. The implications of such sleep disruption during a critical time for physical, mental, social and cognitive development are far reaching.

Prevalence of Sleep Problems Among Chinese Medical Students: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Sleep is a necessary physiological process, which is closely related to cognitive function, emotion, memory, endocrine balance, and immunity. The prevalence of sleep problems continues to rise in Chinese medical students, which has a potential influence on living and work.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to observe the prevalence of sleep problems among medical students in China.

METHOD

The included cross-sectional studies on the prevalence of sleep problems of medical students in China were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CNKI, and Wanfang database. An 11-item checklist recommended by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality was adopted to evaluate the methodological quality of the included studies. Software Stata 12.0, SPSS 26.0, and R were used to analyze the data. Registration: PROSPERO, CRD 42021237303.

RESULT

The prevalence of sleep problems among Chinese medical students was 27.38%. The subgroup analysis showed significant differences in the prevalence of sleep problems among different regions, educational backgrounds, grades, and University types. The region, latitude, and gross domestic product (GDP) were significant heterogeneous sources of sleep problems. The prevalence is positively correlated with latitude and negatively correlated with GDP per capita. Regular screening and appropriate intervention are recommended for these mental health problems.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021237303, identifier: CRD42021237303.

Effect of a Multilayer, Extended-Release Methylphenidate Formulation (PRC-063) on Sleep in Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Fixed-Dose, Placebo-Controlled Trial Followed by a 6-Month Open-Label Follow-Up

Objectives: We analyzed patient-reported sleep parameters for an extended-release methylphenidate formulation (PRC-063) in adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Methods: Clinical efficacy and long-term safety/tolerability data from a 4-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose study (NCT02139111) and a subsequent 6-month, optimized-dose, open-label extension (OLE) study (NCT02168127) were used. In the double-blind study, participants were randomly assigned 1:1:1:1:1 to one of four doses of PRC-063 (25, 45, 70, or 85 mg/day) or placebo. In both the double-blind and OLE studies, sleep outcomes were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results: During double-blind treatment, no statistically significant least-squares mean difference in change from baseline between PRC-063 (all doses combined; N = 293) and placebo (N = 74) was found for either global PSQI score (-0.3 vs. -0.5; p = 0.6110) or scores for any of the seven PSQI subscales. Compared with the placebo group, a marginally higher proportion of patients in the PRC-063 group (all doses combined) went from being poor to good sleepers (global PSQI score ≤5; 14.4% vs. 11.3%). In a logistic regression analysis, study treatment was not a predictor of poor sleep (p = 0.5368) at the end of the double-blind study. In the OLE study, there was a trend of improvement in sleep after 1 month of individualized dosing that was maintained through 6 months. Sleep efficiency (time asleep as a proportion of time in bed) showed improvement at the end of the OLE study. Conclusion: While individual patients may experience changes in sleep as an adverse event, group data evaluating sleep as an outcome found there were no differences between PRC-063 and placebo in self-reported sleep outcomes on the PSQI.

Food Insecurity and Sleep Disturbance Among 223,561 Adolescents: A Multi-Country Analysis of Cross-Sectional Surveys

This study was to investigate the association between food insecurity (FI) and sleep disturbance among adolescents. Based on the cross-sectional data of the Global School-based Student Health Survey, this study analyzed self-reported data from adolescents in 68 countries. Multivariate logistic regression and meta-analysis were used to evaluate the association between FI and sleep disturbance. The final sample included 223,561 adolescents. The prevalence of severe FI and sleep disturbance was 6.4% and 8.0%, respectively. Severe FI was significantly associated with a higher risk of sleep disturbance in 48 of the 68 countries after adjusting for covariates, with a pooled OR (95% CI) of 1.94 (1.79-2.09). Overall, the association between FI and sleep disturbance was similar across countries and gender, though a large level of heterogeneity existed across upper- and middle-income countries. Identifying adolescents suffering from FI and remedying the FI severity may be important to improve sleep quality in global adolescents.

Sleep Disturbances and the Risk of Incident Suicidality: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

OBJECTIVE

The association between sleep disturbances and suicidality is not well understood partly because of the variability in research results. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the predictive value of sleep disturbances for incident suicidality.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases for studies examining sleep disturbances and incident suicidality. Cohort studies were screened following a registered protocol, and the eligible ones were meta-analyzed.

RESULTS

Seven studies comprising 1,570,181 individuals at baseline, with 1407 attempting suicide and 1023 completing suicide during follow-up, were included. Individuals with baseline sleep disturbances had a significantly higher incidence of suicidality than did those without (relative risk = 2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.45-3.24, I2 = 82.50%, p < .001). The risk of an incident suicide attempt was 3.54-fold higher (95% CI = 3.07-4.09, I2 = 0%, p = .44), whereas the risk of incident completed suicide was 1.80-fold higher (95% CI = 1.32-2.44, I2 = 59.33%, p = .01) in individuals with baseline sleep disturbances.

CONCLUSIONS

Incident suicide attempts and deaths are higher among people with sleep disturbances. Regular screening and preventive measures should be undertaken for people with sleep disturbances to prevent progression into suicide attempts and deaths.Clinical Trial Registration:CRD42019136397.

Association between snoring and depressive symptoms in adolescents

While previous studies have suggested that snoring may be associated with depressive symptoms and suicidality in adults and preschool children, there have been no investigations in non-clinical adolescent populations. This study aimed to demonstrate the association between snoring and depressive symptoms/suicidality in adolescents. This survey study recruited 8530 students (grades 7-11) and examined depressive symptoms, suicidality, snoring frequency, daytime sleepiness, sleep duration, and presence of insomnia by questionnaires. Correlation analyses, multiple linear regression analyses and mediation analyses were performed to determine the association between snoring frequency and depressive symptoms/suicidality. The study population included 8080 students (16.73 ± 1.09 years old). Snoring frequency was positively correlated with depressive symptoms and suicidality. Snoring frequency was associated with depressive symptoms and suicidality when adjusted for age and sex, and the association remained significant after additionally adjusting for sleep duration, insomnia, and daytime sleepiness. When depressive symptoms were included as a predictor of suicidality, snoring frequency showed no significant predictive value. Mediation analysis confirmed that depressive symptoms mediate the association between snoring frequency and suicidality. Our findings suggest that self-reported complaints of snoring are associated with increased depressive symptoms and suicidality in adolescents independently of sleep duration, insomnia, and daytime sleepiness, and the connection between snoring and suicidality is mediated by depressive symptoms. These data underscore the importance of identifying snorers among adolescents and screening for depression and suicidal ideation in this population.

Neurology of Sleep

Healthy sleep, including proper amounts in the 24-hour day/night period, is crucial for developing children. Sleep development in infants and children is characterized by increased amounts of sleep, including rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) slow-wave sleep. Expected changes as well as deviations may contribute to sleep problems, which are common in typically developing children and very common in those with neurodevelopmental disorders and often are chronic. Periodic screening of children for sleep problems is important for timely and effective management of these.

Insomnia in the context of short sleep increases suicide risk

Study Objectives

The relationship between insomnia and suicide risk is not completely understood. We aimed to investigate the influence of insomnia on suicide risk, taking both sleep duration and depression into consideration.

Methods

The present study is based on a Swedish prospective cohort study of 38,786 participants with a mean follow-up time of 19.2 years. Cox proportional hazards models with attained age as time-scale were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of death by suicide with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for participants categorized by frequency of insomnia symptoms. Causal mediation analysis was performed to assess to what extent the relationship between insomnia and suicide risk is mediated by depression.

Results

Insomnia was only associated with suicide risk among short sleepers, whereas no significant association was observed among those who slept 7 h/night or more. The total effect of insomnia in the context of short sleep on suicide risk, expressed on the HR scale, was 2.85 (95% CI 1.42–5.74). The direct effect was 2.25 (95% CI 1.12–4.54) and the indirect effect, mediated by depression, was 1.27 (95% CI 1.05–1.53). Of the total effect, 32% was mediated by depression. The association between insomnia and suicide risk became more pronounced with decreasing depressive symptoms (p value for trend <0.05).

Conclusions

Insomnia in the context of short sleep increases suicide risk, both directly and indirectly by affecting the risk of depression. Abnormalities of sleep duration and insomnia symptoms should be evaluated when assessing suicide risk.

Non-pharmacological Approaches for Management of Insomnia

Insomnia is a prevalent sleep problem associated with a constellation of negative health-related outcomes and significant socioeconomic burden. It commonly co-occurs with psychiatric and medical conditions, which may further exacerbate these comorbid conditions and hinder treatment response. There is much empirical evidence to support the clinical efficacy of non-pharmacological treatment for insomnia, especially cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), in managing insomnia in a wide range of populations. This article reviews the research on the efficacy of CBT-I for primary insomnia and insomnia comorbid with other psychiatric and medical conditions, the empirical evidence regarding different CBT-I treatment modalities, the implementation of CBT-I across different age groups, and some initial evidence on the sequential combination of insomnia treatments. A brief overview of other non-pharmacological treatment with regard to complementary alternative medicine is also provided.

Classification and Epidemiology of Sleep Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Sleep disturbances are common in children and adolescents but still remain unrecognized and undertreated. Several classification systems of sleep disorders are available, which include recent attempts to develop more specific nosologic categories that reflect developmental aspects of sleep. The prevalence of sleep disorders has been studied across various samples of healthy, typically developing children and those with special medical, psychiatric, and neurodevelopmental needs. Sleep disorders are highly prevalent in children and adolescents with psychiatric disorders, making it important for mental health professionals to be aware of sleep problems and to address them in the context of psychiatric comorbidities.

Allergic Disease, Short Sleep Duration, and Suicidal Ideation and Plans Among Korean Adolescents

The purpose of the study is to identify the relationships between allergic disease, suicidal ideation, and plans among Korean adolescents. Additionally, we examined the mediating role of short sleep duration. We analyzed nationally representative cross-sectional data from the 12th to 14th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey; the final sample included 164,725 middle school-aged and high school-aged adolescents (mean age = 15.17 years, standard deviation = .13; 51.1% male). Allergic disease was a statistically significant risk factor for suicidal ideation (crude odds ratio [COR] = 1.284, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.246, 1.323]) and suicide plans (COR = 1.165, 95% CI = [1.108, 1.224]). Short sleep duration was a statistically significant mediator (p < .001). We advised school nurses to assess warning signs of poor sleep-including irritability, depression, sleep problems, poor concentration, and poor academic achievement-and that programs be created to improve sleep and mental health in adolescents with allergic disease.

Comparison of the Sleep Problems Among Adolescents Who Attempted Suicide and Healthy Adolescents

The aim of this study was to compare sleep problems among adolescents who attempted suicide and healthy adolescents who never attempted suicide. Adolescents who attempted suicide (study group, n = 103) and healthy adolescents (control group, n = 59) completed a questionnaire prepared by researchers including demographic factors. In addition, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) were administered to both groups. The median age was 16 years and 73% were girls, in both groups. The study group had lower rate of attending to school (88.3% vs. 100%; p = 0.001), academic achievement (45.7% vs. 83.1%; p = 0.001), higher rate of smoking (37.9% vs. 13.8%; p = 0.001), socializing problems (31.1% vs. 3.4%; p = 0.001), and appetite changes (57.3% vs. 39.7%; p = 0.032) than controls. The rate of those with PSQI scores 6 or higher was 53.4% in the attempted suicide group and 37.3% in the control group (p = 0.048). Adolescents, classified as sleepy according to the ESS, did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.214). Adolescents who attempted suicide had poor sleep quality. It is crucial to examine the kinds of sleep problems adolescents who have attempted suicide have experienced. Among adolescents attending outpatient clinics with poor sleep quality, PSQI can be a useful screening tool. Those with high scores should be evaluated for suicide risk.

Sleep problems and suicide risk in youth: A systematic review, developmental framework, and implications for hospital treatment

OBJECTIVE

Sleep problems are transdiagnostic symptoms that confer significant risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in adults. However, less is known about the sleep-STB association in adolescence-a developmental period when rates of STBs increase drastically, and sleep problems may be particularly pernicious. This article provides a systematic review of research on the sleep-STB association in youth, an overview of changes in sleep regulation during adolescence that may make sleep problems particularly detrimental for youth, and a discussion of the clinical implications of the sleep-STB association for hospitalized youth.

METHOD

The systematic review included all longitudinal studies in which sleep problems were examined as prospective predictors of STBs in adolescents (aged 10-24 years). The search was conducted on December 1, 2017 using PsychINFO, PubMed, and Web of Science databases.

RESULTS

Ten studies qualified for inclusion in this review. Of these, seven studies found at least one type of sleep problem significantly predicted a STB outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Although findings are mixed, growing research suggests that sleep problems may be a unique risk factor for STBs in youth. Sleep problems may be particularly important intervention target because they are easily assessed across healthcare settings and are amenable to treatment.

The use of gadgets and their relationship to poor sleep quality and social interaction on mid-adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Background Mid-adolescents dominate the number of gadget users in Indonesia. The use of gadgets to a high intensity can cause various problems such as poor sleep quality and decreased social interaction. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the intensity of the use of gadgets and the quality of sleep and social interaction in adolescents. Method The research design used was a correlational research study with a cross-sectional approach. Through the calculation of the sample, the respondents were 250 adolescents who met the inclusion criteria, namely (1) adolescents aged 15-18 years and (2) teens who owned and used gadgets. The sampling method used simple random sampling by conducting a lottery system in each class. The independent variable was the intensity of using the gadget, while the dependent variable was the quality of sleep and social interaction. Data collection focused on the intensity of gadget use using questionnaires and it was analyzed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS). The data was analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation with α = 0.05. Results The results showed that the intensity of gadget use was positively related to poor sleep quality in adolescents (p = <0.001; r = 0.555). The intensity of the use of gadgets was also related to social interaction with a negative direction. The higher the intensity of the use of gadgets, the lower the social interaction in adolescents (p = 0.001; r = -293). Conclusion The use of gadgets in the mid-adolescent years is related to sleep disorders as regards the latency and duration of sleep. Adolescents are more likely to engage in social interaction and communication through gadgets than face to face.

Insomnia in Chinese College Students With Internet Addiction: Prevalence and Associated Clinical Correlates

Background: Internet addiction (IA) has gained more and more attention for its negative impact on the subjects' study and daily life. However, in a large sample, there is little research on the association between IA and insomnia in Chinese college students. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of insomnia and its related risk factors among Chinese college students with IA. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to investigate 627 Chinese college students with IA. Each student completed a survey on demographic data, Internet addiction (Revised Chinese Internet Addiction Scale), depression (Self-Rating Depression Scale), insomnia (Athens Insomnia Scale), anxiety (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale), and suicidal behavior. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to adjust for confounding factors. Results: The prevalence of insomnia among students with IA was 54.86%. Compared with IA students without insomnia, IA students with insomnia were more likely to be younger, smoking, drinking, have anxiety, depression, suicidal ideations, suicide plans, and suicide attempts (all p < 0.05). Moreover, drinking [OR, 1.664; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.139-2.431; p = 0.008], anxiety (OR, 2.321; 95% CI, 1.116-4.826; p = 0.024), and suicidal ideation (OR, 1.942; 95% CI:1.295-2.911; p = 0.001) were independently associated with insomnia in IA students. Conclusions: Insomnia is very common in Chinese IA students. Drinking, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are independently correlated with insomnia. This study provides valuable evidence for school counselors and clinical professionals to assess Internet addiction, insomnia, and suicide risk.

Insomnia identity and its correlates in adolescents

OBJECTIVE

Insomnia identity, defined as a conviction that one has insomnia, is a cognitive appraisal process that influences help-seeking, diagnosis, and treatment of insomnia. Previous studies in adults showed that about 50% of poor sleepers did not label themselves as having insomnia, while 10% of good sleepers endorsed insomnia identity. This analysis aimed to examine the proportions and characteristics of complaining and noncomplaining poor and good sleepers and the factors that determine self-labeling of insomnia in adolescents.

METHODS

Data from a school-based study were analyzed. We defined insomnia identity as an endorsement of "insomnia" occurring 3-7 nights per week, while 3 criteria of poor sleep were examined. A total of 1447 students were included, the mean age was 14.5 years and 55.5% were females.

RESULTS

Using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition criteria to define poor sleep (insomnia symptoms ≥ 3 times per week), the proportions of complaining and noncomplaining poor sleepers were 2.3% and 8.8%, while complaining and noncomplaining good sleepers were 0.8% and 88.2%, respectively. The ratio between complaining and noncomplaining poor sleepers was 1 to 3.8. Complaining poor sleepers had the highest level of insomnia and daytime symptoms, while complaining good sleepers had the highest proportion of smokers and drinkers. Multivariate logistic regression showed that insomnia symptoms and sleep dissatisfaction were independent predictors of insomnia identity.

CONCLUSIONS

In view of the high proportion of noncomplaining poor sleepers, educational programs should address the under-appraisal of insomnia among adolescents.

Suicide Risk Assessment and Management Training Practices in Pediatric Residency Programs: A Nationwide Needs Assessment Survey

PURPOSE

Youth suicide is a public health emergency, and its prevention is a national imperative. Pediatric providers are critical to risk assessment, triage, and intervention, yet little is known about the content, quality, and perceived adequacy of suicide prevention pediatric residency training. We thus sought to (1) characterize suicide risk assessment and management training practices in pediatric residency programs nationwide and (2) assess areas of training need to guide curricular development.

METHODS

An online nationwide needs assessment was distributed to all 204 pediatric residency program directors (PDs) and 494 pediatric chief residents (CRs) through the Association of Pediatric Program Directors listservs (May to June 2017). Descriptive statistics and comparisons between PDs and CRs are reported.

RESULTS

Ninety-five PDs and 210 CRs (47% and 43% response rate, respectively) completed the survey. Although 82% of respondents rated suicide prevention training in residency as "very" or "extremely" important, a minority (18% PDs and 10% CRs) reported adequate preparation relative to need. Formal training was not universal (66% PDs and 45% CRs) and practices varied across programs (PD median = 3 hours [interquartile range: 1-4.5 hours], CR median = 1.5 hours [interquartile range: 0-3 hours]). Top-ranked educational priorities included interviewing adolescents about risk, risk factor identification, and locating community resources. Training barriers included limited time, lack of training resources, and need for additional expert faculty to guide training.

CONCLUSIONS

PDs and CRs reported constraints to suicide prevention training for pediatric residents despite high perceived importance and need. Programs may benefit from explicit guidelines and standardized curricula that emphasize educational priorities, building on these findings.

Sleep apnea may be associated with suicidal ideation in adolescents

Suicide is a major threat to adolescent health. Sleep problems increase the risk of adolescent suicidal behavior, but the role of sleep-disordered breathing (e.g., sleep apnea) is unclear. We investigated whether sleep apnea had an effect on suicidal ideation that was independent of depression and perceived stress. We examined a series of sleep variables with suicidal ideation in 746 fifth and seventh graders using self-reported questionnaires to assess time in bed, sleep quality, insomnia, and sleep apnea while controlling depression and perceived stress. Overall, 8.8% of students aged 10-14 years reported having recent suicidal ideation, and 33% or 3.8%, depending on the screening criteria, reported having suspected sleep apnea. The sleep variables were all associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation, but the magnitude of effects was largely attenuated when depression and perceived stress were included in the models. Suspected sleep apnea using daytime sleepiness as a screening criterion was independently associated with suicidal ideation (odds ratio = 2.25, p < 0.05). Suspected sleep apnea was associated with suicidal ideation that was partly independent of depression and stress, which reveals the pertinence of screening for sleep apnea among school students and designing proper prevention strategies for reducing youth suicidal behavior.

Stressful life events, insomnia and suicidality in a large sample of Chinese adolescents

AIMS

This study aimed to examine the associations between stressful life events, insomnia, and suicidality including suicidal ideation (SI), suicide plan (SP) and suicide attempt (SA) in a large sample of Chinese adolescents.

METHODS

A total of 11,831 adolescents who participated in the baseline survey of Shandong Adolescent Behavior and Health Cohort were included for the analysis. Participants were sampled from 8 middle/high schools in 3 counties of Shandong, China. Participants completed a structured behavior and health questionnaire, including suicidality, demographics, depression/anxiety, stressful life events (SLEs), and insomnia in November-December 2015. A series of logistic regression models and mediation analyses were performed to examine the associations between SLEs, insomnia and suicidality.

RESULTS

The prevalence rates of overall suicidality, SI, SP and SA in the last year were 13.1%, 12.5%, 3.3%, and 1.5%, respectively. SLEs were significantly associated with overall suicidality, SI, and SP. Insomnia was an independent risk factor of suicidality and a mediator of the association between SLEs and suicidality. The total effect of SLEs on overall suicidality was 0.597 (95%CI: 0.534-0.661), including 0.457 (95%CI: 0.391-0.523) for direct effect and 0.158 (95%CI: 0.138-0.178) for indirect effect. Insomnia also mediated the associations of SLEs with SI, SP and SA, respectively.

LIMITATIONS

Causal relationship could not be concluded because this study is cross-sectional.

CONCLUSIONS

Stressful life events and insomnia are directly associated with suicidality in adolescents. The association between SLEs and suicidality is partially mediated by insomnia.

Sexual orientation and sleep difficulties: a review of research

Is sexual orientation associated with sleep difficulties? In this article, we review empirical evidence that addresses this question. Stress is associated with sleep difficulties such as insomnia and, because members of sexual minorities experience greater stress, on average, than do others, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals can be expected to report more sleep difficulties than their heterosexual peers. We reviewed 17 studies published since 1990, with data gathered from more than 600,000 individuals; some included data on both quantity and quality of sleep. In nine of 12 relevant studies, at least some sexual minority individuals reported shorter sleep duration than did heterosexual individuals, on average. In nine of 10 relevant studies, sexual minority individuals reported lower quality sleep, on average. Few data were available about other aspects of sleep as a function of sexual orientation. No investigators found LGB people to have fewer sleep difficulties than did heterosexual individuals. We conclude that, although research in this area is new and still limited in some respects, sleep difficulties are more common among LGB than heterosexual people. Our conclusion suggests the possibility that sleep difficulties may underlie known health disparities among members of sexual minorities. Further research is needed to evaluate differences in sleep difficulties among members of sexual minorities, and to explore treatment options for LGB individuals suffering from sleep difficulties.

Predictors of future suicide attempt among adolescents with suicidal thoughts or non-suicidal self-harm: a population-based birth cohort study

BACKGROUND

Suicidal thoughts and non-suicidal self-harm are common in adolescents and are strongly associated with suicide attempts. We aimed to identify predictors of future suicide attempts in these high-risk groups.

METHODS

Participants were from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a population-based birth cohort study in the UK. The sample included 456 adolescents who reported suicidal thoughts and 569 who reported non-suicidal self-harm at 16 years of age. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore associations between a wide range of prospectively recorded risk factors and future suicide attempts, assessed at the age of 21 years.

FINDINGS

38 (12%) of 310 participants with suicidal thoughts and 46 (12%) of 380 participants who had engaged in non-suicidal self-harm reported having attempted suicide for the first time by the follow-up at 21 years of age. Among participants with suicidal thoughts, the strongest predictors of transition to attempts were non-suicidal self-harm (odds ratio [OR] 2·78, 95% CI 1·35-5·74; p=0·0059), cannabis use (2·61, 1·11-6·14; p=0·029), other illicit drug use (2·47, 1·02-5·96; p=0·045), exposure to self-harm (family 2·03, 0·93-4·44, p=0·076; friend 1·85, 0·93-3·69, p=0·081), and higher levels of the personality type intellect/openness (1·62, 1·06-2·46; p=0·025). Among participants with non-suicidal self-harm at baseline, the strongest predictors were cannabis use (OR 2·14, 95% CI 1·04-4·41; p=0·038), other illicit drug use (2·17, 1·10-4·27; p=0·025), sleep problems (waking in the night 1·91, 0·95-3·84, p=0·069; insufficient sleep 1·97, 1·02-3·81, p=0·043), and lower levels of the personality type extraversion (0·71, 0·49-1·03; p=0·068).

INTERPRETATION

Most adolescents who think about suicide or engage in non-suicidal self-harm will not make an attempt on their life. Many commonly cited risk factors were not associated with transition to suicide attempt among these high-risk groups. Our findings suggest that asking about substance use, non-suicidal self-harm, sleep, personality traits, and exposure to self-harm could inform risk assessments, and might help clinicians to identify which adolescents are at greatest risk of attempting suicide in the future.

FUNDING

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at the University Hospitals Bristol National Health Service Foundation Trust, and the University of Bristol.

Supported Web-Based Guided Self-Help for Insomnia for Young People Attending Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Protocol for a Feasibility Assessment

Background

Sleep disturbance in adolescents is common, with up to one-third reporting significant symptoms of insomnia. Research with adults has demonstrated that Web-based cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi) can improve both sleep and mental health. However, research with adolescents is lacking, and we know little about whether CBTi would have similar effects on this younger population.

Objective

This paper summarizes the protocol of a study to assess the feasibility of adding supported Web-based CBTi to the usual care of young people aged 14-17 years attending specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

Methods

This is an open trial where we will recruit young people (N=50) aged 14-17 years attending specialist CAMHS with primary or comorbid symptoms of insomnia. In addition to their usual care, young people will be provided with Sleepio, a 6-session, Web-based CBTi self-help program for insomnia. Sleepio teaches a range of techniques including sleep hygiene, relaxation training, stimulus control, sleep restriction, and cognitive techniques that participants will be helped to apply through brief, weekly telephone support calls. Questionnaires and interviews will be completed at baseline and postintervention (8-10 weeks) and will assess sleep, symptoms of depression and anxiety, and acceptability of Sleepio and telephone support.

Results

Recruitment started in May 2018 and continued until the end of October 2018.

Conclusions

This study will provide preliminary evidence about whether supported Web-based CBTi is acceptable to young people with mental health problems and about the postintervention effects on sleep and symptoms of anxiety and depression. This information will determine whether a randomized trial to determine the effectiveness of Sleepio should be undertaken.

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/11324

The relationship between the frequency of suicidal ideation and sleep disturbance factors among adolescent earthquake victims in China

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine the frequency of suicidal ideation (SI) and identify exposure variables, mental health, and sleep-related risk factors of SI among adolescents following the 2013 Ya'an earthquake.

METHODS

Participants consisted of 5563 adolescent students selected through random sampling from 11 primary and high schools in the counties most severely affected by the earthquake. They were asked to complete the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale-13, Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire, and Screen for Child Anxiety-Related Emotional Disorders. Multinomial logistic analysis was used to identify possible relationships between SI and psychopathology, sleep problems, earthquake exposures or demographic characteristics. The mediation analysis was used to identify direct and indirect effects among sleep problems, psychopathology, earthquake exposures and SI.

RESULTS

Our findings suggest that 29.5% of the sample experienced SI during the past year (12.9% once, 11.9% twice, 2.6% on 3-4 occasions and 2.1% on at least 5 occasions). Multiple sleeping problems, including trouble falling asleep, shorter sleep duration, and daytime dysfunction, showed independent associations with SI. The mediation analysis suggested that depression and anxiety mainly mediated the association of sleep with SI.

LIMITATIONS

This study was cross-sectional and did not include controls. No baseline data were collected prior to the earthquake.

CONCLUSION

SI can be a serious problem among adolescents following a major earthquake, especially those who are older, who live in one-child households, or who are female. Years after a disaster, we found that exposure severity, psychopathology and sleep impairment all contributed to SI, and that earthquake exposure may have disrupted sleep and worsened mood, which in turn may have impacted SI. By enhancing teenagers' sleep management and shaping their activities, post-disaster intervention programs may help prevent SI among Chinese adolescents.

Associations between TV viewing, sitting time, physical activity and insomnia among 100,839 Brazilian adolescents

Our aim was to examine the relationship between insomnia and levels of physical activity (PA) and time spent sitting and TV viewing among Brazilian adolescents. Data from the Brazilian Scholar Health Survey, a nationally representative survey of 9th grade adolescents [mean: 14.28 years (range: 11-18 years)] conducted in 2015 (n = 100,839) were used. Self-reported insomnia, TV viewing, sitting time and total PA (adapted International PA Questionnaire) were collected. Chronological age, race, type of city (capital or interior) country region, goodies ingestion and ultra-processed foods ingestion were covariates. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the associations. A higher sitting time and TV viewing (≥8 h/day) was associated with a higher risk of insomnia among boys [sitting time: OR = 2.39 (95%CI = 1.88-3.04); TV:OR = 2.49(95%CI = 1.92-3.22) and girls [sitting time: OR = 2.17(95%CI = 1.84-2.57; TV:OR = 1.72(95%CI = 1.44-2.04)]. More than 4 h of sitting time per day was associated with higher risk of insomnia in adolescents who comply [boys: OR = 1.43(95%CI = 1.19-1.73); girls: OR = 1.66(95%CI = 1.41-1.94)] and who do not comply with the 300 min/week of physical activity recommendation [boys = OR = 1.35(95%CI = 1.13-1.60); girls: OR = 1.38(95%CI = 1.20-1.57)]. Our data suggest that higher levels of TV viewing or sitting are associated with sleep difficulties in this large cohort of adolescents, irrespective of their physical activity behavior.

Sleep Disturbances, Psychosocial Difficulties, and Health Risk Behavior in 16,781 Dutch Adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the prevalence of adolescent sleep disturbances and their relation to psychosocial difficulties and health risk behaviors with the use of data from a province-wide health survey (n = 16,781).

METHODS

Psychosocial difficulties were measured with the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire. Additional assessments included self-reported sleep disturbances, suicidality, and health risk behaviors including current use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs, physical inactivity, and compulsive use of multimedia. We used multilevel analyses to investigate the relationhips, including differences, between boys and girls, as well as the mediating role of emotional problems.

RESULTS

Just under 20% of adolescents reported sleep disturbances in the previous month. These sleep disturbances were associated with psychosocial problems (odds ratio [OR], 6.42; P < .001), suicidality (OR, 3.90-4.14; P < .001), and all health risk behaviors (OR, 1.62-2.66; P < .001), but not with physical inactivity. We found moderation by gender for the relations between sleep and suicide attempts (OR, 0.38; P < .002) and between sleep and cannabis use (OR, 0.52; P = .002), indicating attenuated relationships in girls compared with boys. Emotional problems partially mediated the relationships between sleep disturbances and multimedia use.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reiterates the high prevalence of sleep disturbances during adolescence. These sleep disturbances were strongly related to psychosocial problems and a wide range of health risk behaviors. Although the direction of causality cannot be inferred, this study emphasizes the need for awareness of impaired sleep in adolescents. Moreover, the gender differences in associated suicide attempts and cannabis use call for further research into tailored intervention strategies.

Insomnia disorder in adolescence: Diagnosis, impact, and treatment

Insomnia disorder is very common in adolescents; it is particularly manifest in older adolescents and girls, with a prevalence comparable to that of other major psychiatric disorders (e.g., depressive disorders). However, insomnia disorder in adolescence is poorly characterized, under-recognized, under-diagnosed, and under-treated, and the reason for the female preponderance for insomnia that emerges after puberty is largely unknown. Insomnia disorder goes beyond an individual complaint of poor sleep or a sleep state misperception, and there is emerging evidence supporting the association of insomnia symptoms in adolescents with alterations in several bio-systems including functional cortical alterations and systemic inflammation. Insomnia disorder is associated with depression and other psychiatric disorders, and is an independent risk factor for suicidality and substance use in adolescents, raising the possibility that treating insomnia symptoms in early adolescence may reduce risk for these adverse outcomes. Cognitive behavioral treatments have proven efficacy for adolescent insomnia and online methods seem to offer promising cost-effective options. Current evidence indicates that insomnia in adolescence is an independent entity that warrants attention as a public health concern in its own right.

Insomnia and Nightmares as Markers of Risk for Suicidal Ideation in Young People: Investigating the Role of Defeat and Entrapment

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Although converging evidence has identified sleep problems as robust predictors of suicidal ideation in young people, the psychological processes driving these associations are not yet known. The current study aimed to test predictions, informed by the Integrated Motivational-Volitional (IMV) Model of Suicidal Behavior, concerning the role of feelings of defeat and entrapment within the sleep-suicide relationship.

METHODS

Volunteers aged 15 to 17 years (n = 1,045) from Scottish secondary schools completed an anonymous self-report survey assessing insomnia symptoms, nightmares, suicidal ideation, depressive symptomology, and feelings of defeat and entrapment.

RESULTS

Both insomnia symptoms and nightmares were associated with an increased likelihood of reporting suicidal ideation (independent of depression). Perceptions of both defeat and entrapment were elevated in young people who reported clinically salient insomnia and/or nightmares, relative to those who did not. The relationship between insomnia and suicidal ideation was fully mediated by perceptions of defeat and entrapment, whereas nightmares were indirectly associated with suicidal ideation through perceptions of defeat and entrapment.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these findings provide novel insights into the psychological mechanisms linking sleep disturbance and suicidality by highlighting the role of defeat and entrapment. Clinically, these findings have the potential to improve suicide risk assessment and prevention in young people experiencing difficulties with their sleep.