Jin Young Jung, Hyewon Yeo, Haein Kim, Yunsu Kim, Sujung Yoon, In Kyoon Lyoo, Seog Ju Kim
{"title":"The Association of Zolpidem and Suicidality in Psychiatric Outpatients With Insomnia.","authors":"Jin Young Jung, Hyewon Yeo, Haein Kim, Yunsu Kim, Sujung Yoon, In Kyoon Lyoo, Seog Ju Kim","doi":"10.30773/pi.2024.0397","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Zolpidem is widely prescribed to psychiatric outpatients for the management of insomnia due to its rapid and potent efficacy. However, concerns persist regarding its potential association with suicidal tendencies. While studies have suggested that Z-drugs may influence suicidal behavior in the general population, the specific association of Z-drug use and suicide risk in psychiatric outpatients with insomnia remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association of zolpidem use and suicidal tendencies in this population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of psychiatric outpatients who visited a mental health clinic between January 2018 and December 2022. Of the 6,193 patients assessed, 3,128 (average age: 49.4 years; 36.6% male) reported insomnia, and 364 (11.6%) were prescribed zolpidem. Suicidal tendencies including past suicide attempts, current suicidal ideation, and plans were evaluated in relation to zolpidem use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Psychiatric outpatients with insomnia who used zolpidem demonstrated significantly higher rates of suicidal tendencies (χ2=3.97, p=0.046) and suicide attempts (χ2=8.12, p=0.004, 23.6% in zolpidem users) compared to non-users. Logistic regression analysis revealed that zolpidem use was significantly associated with increased suicidal tendencies (β=0.314, standard error=0.137, odds ratio= 1.368, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.79, p=0.022), suicidal ideation (β=0.326, standard error=0.138, odds ratio=1.386, 95% CI 1.06-1.82, p=0.018), and suicide attempts (β=0.379, standard error=0.157, odds ratio=1.460, 95% CI 1.07-1.98, p=0.016), even after adjusting for relevant clinical factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study highlights a significant association of zolpidem use and elevated suicidal tendencies among psychiatric outpatients with insomnia. Although a causal relationship cannot be definitively established, these findings highlight the critical importance of thorough suicide risk assessment and ongoing monitoring in patients prescribed zolpidem.</p>","PeriodicalId":21164,"journal":{"name":"Psychiatry Investigation","volume":" ","pages":"1006-1011"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12444203/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Psychiatry Investigation","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.30773/pi.2024.0397","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: Zolpidem is widely prescribed to psychiatric outpatients for the management of insomnia due to its rapid and potent efficacy. However, concerns persist regarding its potential association with suicidal tendencies. While studies have suggested that Z-drugs may influence suicidal behavior in the general population, the specific association of Z-drug use and suicide risk in psychiatric outpatients with insomnia remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the association of zolpidem use and suicidal tendencies in this population.
Methods: This retrospective study analyzed the medical records of psychiatric outpatients who visited a mental health clinic between January 2018 and December 2022. Of the 6,193 patients assessed, 3,128 (average age: 49.4 years; 36.6% male) reported insomnia, and 364 (11.6%) were prescribed zolpidem. Suicidal tendencies including past suicide attempts, current suicidal ideation, and plans were evaluated in relation to zolpidem use.
Results: Psychiatric outpatients with insomnia who used zolpidem demonstrated significantly higher rates of suicidal tendencies (χ2=3.97, p=0.046) and suicide attempts (χ2=8.12, p=0.004, 23.6% in zolpidem users) compared to non-users. Logistic regression analysis revealed that zolpidem use was significantly associated with increased suicidal tendencies (β=0.314, standard error=0.137, odds ratio= 1.368, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.79, p=0.022), suicidal ideation (β=0.326, standard error=0.138, odds ratio=1.386, 95% CI 1.06-1.82, p=0.018), and suicide attempts (β=0.379, standard error=0.157, odds ratio=1.460, 95% CI 1.07-1.98, p=0.016), even after adjusting for relevant clinical factors.
Conclusion: This study highlights a significant association of zolpidem use and elevated suicidal tendencies among psychiatric outpatients with insomnia. Although a causal relationship cannot be definitively established, these findings highlight the critical importance of thorough suicide risk assessment and ongoing monitoring in patients prescribed zolpidem.
期刊介绍:
The Psychiatry Investigation is published on the 25th day of every month in English by the Korean Neuropsychiatric Association (KNPA). The Journal covers the whole range of psychiatry and neuroscience. Both basic and clinical contributions are encouraged from all disciplines and research areas relevant to the pathophysiology and management of neuropsychiatric disorders and symptoms, as well as researches related to cross cultural psychiatry and ethnic issues in psychiatry. The Journal publishes editorials, review articles, original articles, brief reports, viewpoints and correspondences. All research articles are peer reviewed. Contributions are accepted for publication on the condition that their substance has not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere. Authors submitting papers to the Journal (serially or otherwise) with a common theme or using data derived from the same sample (or a subset thereof) must send details of all relevant previous publications and simultaneous submissions. The Journal is not responsible for statements made by contributors. Material in the Journal does not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor or of the KNPA. Manuscripts accepted for publication are copy-edited to improve readability and to ensure conformity with house style.