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

Psychiatry Res. 2020 Aug:290:113134. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2020.113134. Epub 2020 May 27.

Authors

William D S Killgore¹, Sara A Cloonan², Emily C Taylor², Fabian Fernandez², Michael A Grandner², Natalie S Dailey²

Affiliations

¹ University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, United States; University of Arizona, Department of Psychology, United States. Electronic address: killgore@psychiatry.arizona.edu.
² University of Arizona College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, United States; University of Arizona, Department of Psychology, United States.

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.

Publication types

Letter