What role do nightmares play in suicide? A brief exploration

• Published in: Current opinion in psychology 2018-08, Vol.22, p.59-62
• Main Authors: Titus, Caitlin E, Speed, Katrina J, Cartwright, Patricia M, Drapeau, Christopher W, Heo, Yeseul, Nadorff, Michael R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2352-250X; 2352-250X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2017.08.022

•Nightmares have been shown to be independently associated with suicidal behavior.•Nightmares respond well to both psychological and pharmacological treatments.•Emerging literature suggests that treating nightmares may reduce suicide risk.•Nightmares should be considered in judging suicide risk. The suicide rate in the United States has climbed each year for more than a decade, highlighting the need for greater understanding of, and prevention strategies for suicidal behavior. Nightmares have been shown to be associated with suicidal behavior independent of several psychiatric risk factors for suicide, such as symptoms of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The specific role of nightmares in contributing to suicide remains unclear due to the difficulty in delineating causal factors. However, the reporting, screening and treatment of nightmares continues to remain rare making progress difficult. Research is beginning to make some progress in uncovering the mechanisms by which nightmares increase suicide risk providing opportunities for intervention and prediction of suicidal behaviors.