Investigating how sleep problems affect suicidal thoughts in young people receiving psychiatric care
Official title: Examining the Association Between Sleep Deficiencies and Suicidal Ideation in Peripubertal Youth Receiving Intensive Psychiatric Services: A Multi-Modal Approach
Funded at University of Rhode Island · NIH-11073148 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how not getting enough sleep might affect thoughts of suicide in young people going through puberty who are getting mental health treatment, using daily journals and wrist monitors to track their sleep and feelings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kingston, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $44,818 |
| NIH project number | 1R36MH139327-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11073148 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are peripubertal youth aged 12-20 who are experiencing severe stress and receiving psychiatric services.
✕Less likely to help
Patients outside the peripubertal age range or those not experiencing psychiatric issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the relationship between sleep deficiencies and suicidal ideation in peripubertal youth who are receiving intensive psychiatric services. By using a combination of subjective daily diaries and objective measures like wrist-based actigraphy, the study aims to capture the dynamic effects of sleep quality, duration, and timing on next-day suicidal thoughts. The research also considers other factors such as depressive symptoms and childhood adversity to provide a comprehensive view of the risks involved. This approach is particularly important as it addresses a vulnerable population that has been largely overlooked in previous studies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved interventions for preventing suicidal thoughts in young people by addressing sleep issues.
How similar studies have gone: While research on sleep and suicide risk in adults has shown promising results, this specific focus on peripubertal youth is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hernandez Valencia, Evelyn Michelle — University of Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Hernandez Valencia, Evelyn Michelle
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.