Prescription Sleeping Pills, Insomnia, and Suicidality in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication

• DOI: 10.4088/jcp.09m05484gry
• Publication Date: 2010-09-20T22:06:31Z
• Authors: Kirk J. Brower; Ryan J. McCammon; Marcin Wojnar; Mark A. Ilgen; Julita Wojnar; Marcia Valenstein
• Keywords: Zolpidem

Sedative-hypnotics have been associated with suicide attempts and completed suicides in a number of toxicologic, epidemiologic, clinical studies. Most studies, however, inadequately address confounding by insomnia, which not only is component many mental health disorders that increase suicidal risk, but also independently suicidality. Moreover, the association nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonists (NBRAs) suicidality has specifically studied US general population.The purpose this study was to assess independent contribution prescription sedative-hypnotic use, particularly NBRAs, ideas, plans, population, after adjusting for insomnia other variables.Secondary analyses National Comorbidity Survey Replication data 5,692 household respondents interviewed between 2001 2003 assessed cross-sectional relationships use previous 12 months. Multivariate, hierarchical logistic regression controlled symptoms past-year disorders, lifetime chronic physical illnesses, demographic variables.Prescription past year significantly thoughts (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.2; P < .001), plans (AOR 1.9; .01), 3.4; .01). It stronger predictor than both improved fit these models (suicidal thoughts, .01; attempts, .05).Prescription sleeping pills, as exemplified zolpidem zaleplon, are during months, no evidence causality provided study. Clinical practitioners should recognize patients taking similar types sedative-hypnotics marker increased risk