Exploring sleep difficulties, alcohol, illicit drugs, and suicidal ideation among adolescents with a history of depression

Psychiatry Res. 2024 Oct:340:116116. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2024.116116. Epub 2024 Jul 30.

Abstract

Sleep difficulties and misuse of drugs/alcohol have been associated with suicidal ideation in young people. Using cross-sectional representative surveys of adolescents in the United States, we conducted adjusted logistic regression modeling to assess the relationships between sleep difficulties, substance use, and suicidal ideation among adolescents with a history of depression (n = 38,418) between 2015 and 2020. Sleep difficulties were associated with thinking about (aOR=1.6,95%CI:1.3-1.9), planning (aOR=1.8,95%CI:1.2-2.6), or attempting (aOR=1.7,95%CI:1.2-2.5) suicide. In those reporting alcohol abuse/dependence, sleep difficulties were associated with attempting suicide (aOR=3.1,95%CI:1.2-8.5). In those reporting illicit drug abuse/dependence, sleep difficulties were associated with thinking about (aOR=2.1,95%CI:1.1-4.1) and attempting (aOR=2.2,95%CI:1.2-4.1) suicide.

Keywords: Sleep difficulties; Substance abuse/dependence; Suicidal ideation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Alcoholism / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Depression* / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Illicit Drugs
  • Male
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders* / epidemiology
  • Substance-Related Disorders* / psychology
  • Suicidal Ideation*
  • Suicide, Attempted / statistics & numerical data
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Illicit Drugs