Nightmare types and suicide.

Dreaming, Vol 34(1), Mar 2024, 1-7; doi:10.1037/drm0000261Previous research has robustly documented the relationship between sleep and suicide, where many aspects of poor sleep quality, sleep disturbances, and sleep disorders have been found to predict suicide. Research has also linked nightmares to suicide. It is not known, however, if nightmare types (idiopathic, trauma-related, and complex nightmares [nightmares with comorbid sleep and breathing diagnoses]) may differentially affect mental health. Thus, the current study examines the relationships between different nightmare types, suicide attempts, and mental health treatment utilization within a sample of veterans with a previously documented suicide attempt. To examine the relationship between nightmare types, suicide attempts, and mental health treatment utilization, multiple logistical regression was used. Results of our analyses revealed that only trauma-related nightmares predicted suicide attempts. Both trauma-related and complex nightmares were associated with increased mental health treatment utilization. These results support previous findings that depict a strong relationship between sleep, nightmares, suicide, and treatment usage. The results further support theories of nightmare types and their differing effects on psychological symptoms and treatment. Overall, the findings provide clinically significant information about the relationship between trauma-related nightmares and suicide. (PsycInfo Database Recor...
Source: Dreaming - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Source Type: research