Bipolar Disorder and Suicide

Objective: The risk factors associated with suicidal behaviour in bipolar patients are not clear yet. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of suicide attempt, type of suicide attempt and significant clinical characteristics associated with suicide attempts. Methods: One hundred twenty two consecutive patients, from Bipolar Disorder Unit of Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, are included in this study. "Affective Disorders Patient Registry Form" was developed by Bipolar Disorder Unit and SCID-I were used in this study to collect the data. These forms are filled in through interviews with patients and their relatives, and evaluation of inpatient files. Results: The prevalence of suicide attempt was 19.7% in the outpatient group. Lifetime history of suicidal behavior was significantly associated with following characteristics: being a woman, depression as a first episode and indicators of severity of bipolar disorder including duration of illness, duration of untreated illness (latency), number of hospitalization, number of total mood episodes, number of depressive episodes, number of mixed episodes, positive familial psychiatric disorder history. Conclusion: Our study showed that patients with bipolar disorder have a high rate of suicide attempt. Reduction of the duration of untreated illness, prevention of mood episodes, assessment of suicide risk during depressive and mixed episodes should be the main targets of the treatment. Detection of warning signs about suicide among patients with bipolar disorder may help to distinguish the risky group and prevent suicide.