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Mental health

Schizophrenia Patients with Insomnia at Higher Risk of Suicide

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A recent study conducted by investigators at the Tianjin Anding Hospital, People's Republic of China, sheds light on the relationship between insomnia, cognitive impairments, and psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenia patients. The study, published in the BMC Psychiatry journal, found that schizophrenia patients with insomnia have a significantly higher risk of suicide compared to those without insomnia. The researchers also identified language function and general psychopathology scores as predictors of suicidal ideation and risk in these patients.

Key Takeaways:

  • 1,436 chronic schizophrenia patients were recruited for the study, with 9.5% of them experiencing insomnia.
  • Patients with insomnia had a significantly higher suicide risk compared to those without (38% vs. 19.8%).
  • Language function scores were negatively correlated with the severity of suicidal ideation (r = -0.344, p = 0.004).
  • General psychopathology scores were significant predictors of the severity of suicidal ideation (B = 0.97, p = 0.010) and suicide risk (B = 0.11, p = 0.012).
  • The combined AUCROC value for language function and general psychopathology scores as predictors reached 0.758.
  • The study suggests that language function and general psychopathology serve as risk factors and predictors of suicide risk in chronic schizophrenia patients with insomnia.

Statistics:

  • 9.5% of 1,436 chronic schizophrenia patients experienced insomnia.
  • 38% of patients with insomnia had a higher suicide risk compared to those without (19.8%).
  • Language function scores were negatively correlated with the severity of suicidal ideation (r = -0.344, p = 0.004).
  • General psychopathology scores were significant predictors of the severity of suicidal ideation (B = 0.97, p = 0.010) and suicide risk (B = 0.11, p = 0.012).
  • The combined AUCROC value for language function and general psychopathology scores as predictors reached 0.758.

Sources:

  • Suicidology Study. "Suicide risk, psychopathology and cognitive impairments in schizophrenia with insomnia: a large-scale cross-sectional study" (2025). BMC Psychiatry, 25(1):920.
  • BMC Psychiatry. "Bmc, Campus, 4 Crinan St, London N1 9XW, England" (www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpsychiatry/).
  • NewsRx. "Researchers at Tianjin Anding Hospital Discuss Findings in Schizophrenia (Suicide risk, psychopathology and cognitive impairments in schizophrenia with insomnia: a large-scale cross-sectional study)" (October 18, 2025). Psychology & Psychiatry Journal.

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