Short-term co-prescription of a hypnotic with an antidepressant may reduce suicidal ideation in certain patients with major depression and insomnia, researchers say.

While not advocating for routine use of the combination in depressed patients with sleep problems, the US authors say their study suggests patients with severe insomnia may particularly benefit.

The Reducing Suicidal Ideation Through Insomnia Treatment (REST-IT) randomised controlled trial investigated the effects of placebo compared with a bedtime dose of controlled-release zolpidem over eight weeks in 103 outpatients with depression who had been prescribed an SSRI.

Participants were medication-free for several weeks before the trial, aged 18-65 and had major depressive disorder, insomnia and moderate suicidal ideation but without suicidal plans or intent.