New collaborative research published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research explores the link between sleep disturbances and suicide risk in those participating in the Prechter Longitudinal Study of Bipolar Disorder (PLS-BD). The national research collaboration, Bipolar Research in Sleep and Circadian Rhythm (BRSCr), brings together researchers from University of Pennsylvania, Crescenz VA Medical Center of Philadelphia, and McLean Hospital with our very own at the University of Michigan. This study further supports the importance of sleep in those with bipolar disorder and illuminates different sleep and suicide risk factors for those with bipolar I or bipolar II disorders.
It is known that people with bipolar disorder have a much higher risk of suicide compared to the general population. However, our results indicated that suicide risk was associated with initial insomnia, specifically difficulty falling asleep and the consequences of insomnia, such as having little enthusiasm to get things done in those with bipolar I disorder. However, more exposure to natural light during the day was linked to lower suicide risk in those with bipolar I disorder. Conversely, in those with bipolar II disorder, the results showed that evening chronotype, the behavior of being more active during the evening or awake during the night, was most associated with severity of suicide risk. This suggests that circadian dysregulation is a critical factor to consider in bipolar II disorder and suicidality.
These results demonstrate that sleep patterns and circadian rhythms are important considerations when identifying and reducing suicide risk in individuals with bipolar disorder and addressing sleep problems could help reduce suicide risk in people with bipolar disorder. However, different strategies might be needed for those with bipolar I and bipolar II disorders because the types of sleep disturbances affecting suicide risk differ between them. The authors recommend regular assessments of sleep patterns and targeted treatments for sleep disturbances as these could be crucial in managing bipolar disorder and reducing suicide risk. By focusing on and replicating these findings, researchers hope to develop better interventions tailored to the specific needs of individuals with bipolar I and bipolar II disorders, potentially improving their overall outcomes and reducing their risk of suicide.
To read the full publication, click here.