University of Arizona Receives $3.8 Million NIH Grant to Study Suicide Risk Factors During Nighttime Wakefulness

The five-year study is initiated by the Sleep and Health Research Program and the Center for Sleep, Circadian and Neuroscience Research. Lead investigator Michael Grandner, an associate professor of psychiatry, noted that prior data shows suicides occur three to four times more frequently between 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. than expected by chance, suggesting a link between late-night wakefulness and impulsive decision-making.

The research will involve participants undergoing two overnight lab visits: one where they remain awake until around 2 a.m., and another where they can fall asleep and will be awakened for testing at the same time. The study will assess emotional processing, complex decision-making, and feelings of hopelessness, stress, and disconnection during nighttime hours, as well as the corresponding brainwave activity.

Co-lead investigator Fabian-Xosé Fernandez, an associate professor of psychology and neurology, emphasized that this research represents the first comprehensive investigation into the interplay of mood, neuropsychological function, and suicidality in relation to biological rhythms. The aim is to identify potential evidence-based treatments to mitigate a modifiable suicide risk associated with nighttime wakefulness.

Both Grandner and Fernandez express hope that findings from the study could influence international suicide prevention strategies by focusing on neurobiological mechanisms and timing interventions to assist individuals experiencing self-harm thoughts during the night. Dr. Jordan F. Karp, chair of the Department of Psychiatry, remarked on the study's significance in advancing circadian science and suicide prevention efforts.