Arecent study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry states that nocturnal wakefulness in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar depression may be associated with next-day suicidal ideation in them.

In the current study, 65 participants with MDD or bipolar depression underwent overnight polysomnography. They were also assessed on the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) the next morning for suicidal ideation, severity of depressive symptoms, and subjective sleep disturbances.

The results demonstrated that greater nocturnal wakefulness at 4.00 am was associated with suicidal ideation (p=0.007). Increased time awake during the 4.00 am hour (4.00 to 4.59) was significantly associated with elevated suicidal thoughts the next day (p=0.008).

The study authors concluded that in patients with MDD or bipolar depression, greater nocturnal wakefulness was found to be significantly associated with next-day suicidal thoughts, particularly in the early morning hours. Thus, sleep disruption at specific times of night may represent an acute risk factor for suicidal ideation. However, these findings require further research evidence