Significant link between nightmares and suicidal behaviour

It's been established that having nightmares can increase the potential of suicidal behaviour, according to a new study conducted under the supervision of Simon D Kyle, PhD, of the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford in the UK.

Results show that suicidal thoughts, plans or attempts were present in 62 percent of participants who experienced nightmares and only 20 percent of those without nightmares. Continued analysis suggested that nightmares can trigger stress in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Specific types of negative cognitive thoughts, such as defeat, entrapment and hopelessness, can be triggered by nightmares, which can often reinforce suicidal thoughts and behaviours.

"PTSD increases the risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior, and our study shows that nightmares, a hallmark symptom of PTSD, may be an important treatment target to reduce suicide risk," said principal investigator Donna L Littlewood, PhD researcher in medical and human sciences at The University of Manchester.

The results of the study were published in the March 15th, 2016 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.