Poor quality sleep and insomnia are associated with suicidal symptoms among college undergraduates, according to a study of 322 female college students between 19 and 24 years old.

The findings were presented Monday at SLEEP 2008 - the annual gathering of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

Consistent with past research, Rebecca A. Bernert of Florida State University and colleagues found that poor sleep quality and insomnia were associated with depressive symptoms.

But even after controlling for depression, “we found that insomnia and poor sleep quality jointly predicted elevated suicidal symptoms. However, these sleep complaints failed to individually predict increased risk for suicide,” Bernert said.

“These findings are preliminary, but important in several ways,” she told Reuters Health.

“First, they add to evidence suggesting that sleep complaints may present risk for suicide - above and beyond the influence of depression - and across diverse samples and age groups,” Bernert explained.

The findings also underscore the need for further research, “especially longitudinal investigations evaluating poor sleep as a suicide warning sign, vulnerability factor, and intervention tool.”

“This area of research may inform suicide risk assessment and provide a unique opportunity for prevention,” Bernert added.

She encourages anyone having suicidal thoughts to contact their physician; seek immediate care from a mental health professional; or call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

For those suffering from insomnia or other sleep disorder, a visit to your doctor or a sleep specialist can help, Bernert added.

By Megan Rauscher
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)