Posttraumatic Stress, Alcohol Problems, Insomnia, and Suicidality: How They Interact

Individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have an elevated rate of suicidal ideation. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) and insomnia are associated with both suicidal ideation and PTSD, but no studies have examined whether the link between PTSD and suicidal ideation can be explained by AUD and insomnia. To learn more, researchers conducted a cross-sectional study.

Over 7000 firefighters from a single province in Korea completed standard self-report questionnaires on PTSD symptoms, insomnia, and AUD severity, plus a single question on suicidal thinking. A path analysis supported the hypothesis that trauma exposure leads to PTSD symptoms which then leads to alcohol use, which contributes to sleep disturbances, all of which ultimately lea…