Suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of insomnia

William D.S. Killgore; Sara A. Cloonan; Emily C. Taylor; Fabian Fernandez; Michael A. Grandner; Natalie S. Dailey

doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113134

Suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of insomnia

William D.S. Killgore, Sara A. Cloonan, Emily C. Taylor, Fabian Fernandez, Michael A. Grandner, Natalie S. Dailey

Research output: Contribution to journal › Letter › peer-review

85 Scopus citations

Abstract

There is growing concern over the potential for increased suicide risk in vulnerable populations as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds. To contextualize this risk during the first weeks of the nationwide lockdown efforts, we had 1,013 U.S. adults complete questionnaires assessing worries over COVID-19, insomnia severity, and suicidal ideation. Anxiety about COVID-19 correlated positively with insomnia severity and suicidal ideation. Analysis revealed that the statistical association between pandemic fears and suicidal thinking was fully accounted for by insomnia severity, suggesting that interventions aimed at improving sleep may be useful in reducing suicide risk during the current pandemic.

Original language	English (US)
Article number	113134
Journal	Psychiatry research
Volume	290
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113134
State	Published - Aug 2020

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Psychiatry and Mental health
Biological Psychiatry

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10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113134

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title = "Suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of insomnia",

abstract = "There is growing concern over the potential for increased suicide risk in vulnerable populations as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds. To contextualize this risk during the first weeks of the nationwide lockdown efforts, we had 1,013 U.S. adults complete questionnaires assessing worries over COVID-19, insomnia severity, and suicidal ideation. Anxiety about COVID-19 correlated positively with insomnia severity and suicidal ideation. Analysis revealed that the statistical association between pandemic fears and suicidal thinking was fully accounted for by insomnia severity, suggesting that interventions aimed at improving sleep may be useful in reducing suicide risk during the current pandemic.",

author = "Killgore, {William D.S.} and Cloonan, {Sara A.} and Taylor, {Emily C.} and Fabian Fernandez and Grandner, {Michael A.} and Dailey, {Natalie S.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2020",

month = aug,

doi = "10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113134",

language = "English (US)",

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journal = "Psychiatry Research",

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T1 - Suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic

T2 - The role of insomnia

AU - Killgore, William D.S.

AU - Cloonan, Sara A.

AU - Taylor, Emily C.

AU - Fernandez, Fabian

AU - Grandner, Michael A.

AU - Dailey, Natalie S.

PY - 2020/8

Y1 - 2020/8

N2 - There is growing concern over the potential for increased suicide risk in vulnerable populations as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds. To contextualize this risk during the first weeks of the nationwide lockdown efforts, we had 1,013 U.S. adults complete questionnaires assessing worries over COVID-19, insomnia severity, and suicidal ideation. Anxiety about COVID-19 correlated positively with insomnia severity and suicidal ideation. Analysis revealed that the statistical association between pandemic fears and suicidal thinking was fully accounted for by insomnia severity, suggesting that interventions aimed at improving sleep may be useful in reducing suicide risk during the current pandemic.

AB - There is growing concern over the potential for increased suicide risk in vulnerable populations as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds. To contextualize this risk during the first weeks of the nationwide lockdown efforts, we had 1,013 U.S. adults complete questionnaires assessing worries over COVID-19, insomnia severity, and suicidal ideation. Anxiety about COVID-19 correlated positively with insomnia severity and suicidal ideation. Analysis revealed that the statistical association between pandemic fears and suicidal thinking was fully accounted for by insomnia severity, suggesting that interventions aimed at improving sleep may be useful in reducing suicide risk during the current pandemic.

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DO - 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113134

M3 - Letter

C2 - 32505030

AN - SCOPUS:85085748425

SN - 0165-1781

VL - 290

JO - Psychiatry Research

JF - Psychiatry Research

M1 - 113134

ER -

Suicidal ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of insomnia

Abstract

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