Insomnia Symptoms,Nightmares, and Suicide Risk: Duration of Sleep Disturbance Matters

Duration of insomnia symptoms or nightmares was investigated to see if it was related to suicide risk independent of current insomnia symptoms, nightmares, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and posttraumatic symptoms. The cross‐sectional study involved analyses of survey responses from undergraduate students who endorsed either insomnia symptoms (n = 660) or nightmares (n = 312). Both insomnia symptom and nightmare duration were significantly associated with suicide risk independent of current insomnia symptoms or nightmares, respectively. Relations were also significant after controlling for anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, and posttraumatic symptoms. Results suggest that duration of sleep disturbance is relevant when assessing suicide risk.     

Depressive Symptoms and Suicide Risk in Older Adults: Value Placed on Autonomy as a Moderator for Men but Not Women

Risk for suicide is elevated among older men. We examined whether value placed on autonomy amplifies the relation between depressive symptoms and suicide risk differently for older men and women. Participants were 98 community‐dwelling older adults, M age 73.6 (SD = 8.6), 65.1% female, 93.1% White. Questionnaires measured suicide risk (SBQ‐R), depressive symptoms (CESD), and value placed on autonomy (PSI‐II autonomy). Among men, depressive symptoms were associated with suicide risk only when PSI‐II autonomy was elevated. Among women, greater depressive symptoms were associated with suicide risk at all levels of PSI‐II autonomy. Further research on attitudes toward autonomy is warranted.