Sleep disorders and relative risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts in youth presenting to emergency departments.

OBJECTIVE

Sleep problems predict suicide, which is a leading cause of death in adolescents and young adults, but the relative risk of suicidality in youth with sleep disorders has not been established in nationally representative samples. This study evaluated the relative risk of suicidal ideation and attempt in youth ages 6-24 who presented to United States emergency departments between 2015 and 2017.

METHODS

Youths' diagnoses of sleep and psychiatric disorders, and emergency department encounters with suicide attempt and suicidal ideation, were extracted from the Health Care Cost Utilization Project's Nationwide Emergency Department Sample (N = 65,230,478). Relative risk of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt were evaluated through logistic regression and predicted rate ratios after adjustment for history of self-harm and demographic characteristics.

RESULTS

Youth with at least 1 sleep disorder had 3 times greater odds of an emergency department encounter involving suicidal ideation compared to those without a sleep disorder (aOR = 3.22, 95% CI: 2.61, 3.98). The predicted probability of suicidal ideation was 46.03% higher in youth with a mood disorder and a sleep disorder, and 47.04% higher in youth with a psychotic disorder and sleep disorder, compared to youth without a sleep disorder. Only 0.32% of youth presenting to emergency departments were diagnosed with a sleep disorder.

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep disorders are associated with increased risk for suicidal ideation in youth presenting to emergency departments. Sleep disorders are also underdiagnosed in youth presenting to emergency departments relative to their estimated prevalence in epidemiologic surveys. Research and public health campaigns to prevent suicide in youth should incorporate assessment and intervention for sleep disorders.