Study of insomnia finds a new predictor for suicidal thoughts
"Insomnia and nightmares, which are often confused and go hand-in-hand, are known risk factors for suicide but just how they contribute was unknown," said Dr. W. Vaughn McCall, the study's lead author and chair of the Medical College of Georgia Department of Psychiatry and Health Behavior at Georgia Regents University.
"This study reaffirms that link and adds the element of hopelessness about sleep that is independent of other types of hopelessness, such as those regarding personal relationships and careers."It turns out insomnia can lead to a very specific type of hopelessness, and hopelessness by itself is a powerful predictor of suicide," McCall said. "It's fascinating because what it tells you is we have discovered a new predictor for suicidal thinking."
According to the authors, the study suggests that nightmares and dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep may present novel targets for suicide prevention.
So you're saying after thousands of years of human misery you have identified a special kind of hopelessness. Huh.
Oh wait- I see what's going on here- you're trying to validate this protocol so you can identify manic patients desperate enough to qualify for your "new improved" Electroshock therapy.
You have two different illnesses here. One causes insomnia and obsession.
The other causes major depression.
They are called mania and melancholy and have been known for centuries to precede suicide.
Both can eventually lead to whatever neurotransmitter combination causes hopelessness and suicidal ideation. I'm guessing it's an unbalanced rostral anterior cingulate cortex-a brain region which processes errors. The hallmark experience of despair is that of absolute certain failure- the futility of trying.
I know you guys think that is learned behavior, but it's not. It's physiological. It seems to go something like this-
If you have high dopamine you will be very motivated, so if your serotonin crashes you will be despondent.
On the other hand- if you have low serotonin you will be chronically unsatisfied, add dopamine and you will obsess on it.
Six of one, half-dozen of the other.
And as far as I can tell- targeting the dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes of "sleep psychiatrists" will prevent a hell of a lot more suicide. I'm pretty sure I'd rather go crazy and kill myself than be treated by you.
He is Editor of the Journal of ECT, Past President of the Association for Convulsive Therapy, and a prior Director of the Board of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
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