Relationship among Sleep Disturbance, Stress, and Suicidal Ideation in Clinical High Risk for Psychosis

Sleep disturbance is a well-established risk factor for suicide, though few studies to date have examined whether sleep disturbance contributes to suicide risk among individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR). The current study addressed this gap in the literature. We hypothesized that sleep disturbance would have a unique relationship with suicidal ideation/attempts when accounting for other variables in the model. We also hypothesized that the interaction between sleep disturbance/attenuated positive symptoms and sleep disturbance/stress would be related to suicidal ideation/attempts in CHR.

The current study used data generated by the Accelerating Medicines Partnership® Schizophrenia Observational Study. The total sample included 1,048 participants (827 CHR and 221 community controls). Participants completed measures of suicidal ideation/attempts, attenuated positive symptoms, depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and sleep disturbance.

Results supported a relationship between sleep disturbance and suicidal ideation/attempts in CHR, with participants who had lifetime ideation and attempts experiencing more sleep disturbance than those with no ideation or attempts. We also found small, but significant positive correlations between sleep disturbance and suicide risk in CHR. When accounting for other variables in the model, the effect of sleep disturbance remained significant for past month ideation, but not lifetime ideation or attempts. Both interaction models were non-significant.

Our findings highlight the potential value of sleep measures in early identification and treatment of suicide risk in CHR. Further research in this area is warranted.