Suicide attempts in bipolar disorder patients

Object: The risk of completed suicide is very high among bipolar disorder (BPD) patients. The risk of attempted suicide is not as well-quantified, but attempting suicide is the most important factor for predicting the risk of subsequent completed suicide. Method: We retrospectively evaluated 88 patients diagnosed with bipolar I, bipolar II, or unipolar depression. Of these, 44 had made at least one suicide attempt, and were matched for age, sex and diagnosis with 44 patients who had never attempted suicide. Results: In the univariate contrasts, suicidal patients were more likely to be men, single, ill for a long period of time, bipolar, substance abusing, and unemployed. In a logistic regression analysis, only length of illness and unemployment were statistically significant. Conclusions: Our results support previous finding in the literature but suggest that length of illness and unemployment are two important variables involved in the precipitation of suicide attempts in bipolar and unipolar patients. Length of illness is a trait-dependent risk factor (unchangeable) while unemployment is a state-dependent risk factor (which can potentially be modified). Limitations: The study findings may not generalize to other samples, settings, and treatment programs. © 2006 Giovanni Fioriti Editore s.r.l.