Bipolar disorder is characterized by episodes of depression as well as episodes of mania (abnormally high mood). Individuals with bipolar disorder experience high rates of suicidal ideation and behavior, with risk of death due to suicide estimated to be 20 times greater than the general population. Moreover, some research suggests that among individuals treated for bipolar disorder, approximately 40% will report a past suicide attempt. Other studies suggest that between 25 and 65% of patients with bipolar disorder will attempt suicide and that between 4 and 19% of these individuals will be successful. Among the DSM-IV-TR Axis I disorders, suicide appears to be the highest in bipolar disorder. Individuals with bipolar disorder have a greater likelihood of both current and past suicidal ideation if they have an anxiety disorder, have an earlier age of onset, or a more severe course of illness. Nevertheless, there is a continued need for information on the epidemiology and risk factors for suicidal ideation and behavior in this population.

Several studies have shown that sleep difficulties (i.e., insomnia, hypersomnia, poor sleep quality, and nightmares) are significantly associated with suicidal ideation, even after controlling for depression. These disturbances are well documented during episodes of depression and mania, but sleep disturbances have also been shown to persist during periods of relative mood stability. A common symptom in bipolar patients experiencing manic episodes is a reduced need for sleep, and several studies using polysomnography have identified decreased REM sleep latency in manic episodes. Utilizing self-report measures, studies of bipolar patients in depressive episodes have identified variable rates of hypersomnia and insomnia as common factors. However, research conducted using laboratory-based polysomnography during depressive episodes have reported disparate findings.

This proposal involves a test of a novel measure of sleep architecture in patients with bipolar disorder, using a newly available home sleep monitoring device called Embla (www.embla.com). This device sticks to the skin on the chest with standard EKG-adhesive stickers and captures electrocardiogram (EKG) during sleep. The Embla device also measures movement, snoring, body position, and light levels. The on-board storage allows 2-3 weeks of nightly recording. By using an unobtrusive and potentially informative measure of sleep architecture, this protocol will allow longitudinal, objective information about sleep disturbance to be compared with corresponding mood states in patients with bipolar disorder.

Overall, this protocol is investigating the relationship between suicidality and sleep disturbance as well as assessing whether a brief CBT intervention for sleep disturbance is associated with reduced suicidal ideation and/or behavior. Since research suggests that CBT is an effective adjunct treatment for reducing suicidality in this population, and that treatment for insomnia can improve sleep in individuals with bipolar disorder, the present research has important implications for the prevention and intervention of suicide in this vulnerable population. To the investigators knowledge, no investigations have looked at the effectiveness of CBT on both sleep and suicidality in bipolar disorder. Furthermore, while past research has relied almost exclusively on subjective reports of sleep, this study captures both subjective and objective measures of sleep.