Bipolar depression: phenomenological overview and clinical characteristics

OBJECTIVES: There has been increasing interest in the depressed phase of bipolar disorder (bipolar depression). This paper aims to review the clinical characteristics of bipolar depression, focusing upon its prevalence and phenomenology, related neuropsychological dysfunction, suicidal behaviour, disability and treatment responsiveness. METHODS: Studies on the prevalence of depression in bipolar disorder, the comparative phenomenology of bipolar and unipolar depression, as well as neuropsychology and brain imaging studies, are reviewed. To identify relevant papers, a literature search using MEDLINE and PubMed was undertaken. RESULTS: Depression is the predominant mood disturbance in bipolar disorder, and most frequently presents as subsyndromal, minor or dysthymic depression. Compared with major depressive disorder (unipolar depression), bipolar depression is more likely to manifest with psychosis, melancholic symptoms, psychomotor retardation (in bipolar I disorder) and 'atypical' symptoms. The few neuropsychological studies undertaken indicate greater impairment in bipolar depression. Suicide rates are high in bipolar disorder, with suicidal ideation, suicide attempts and completed suicides all occurring predominantly in the depressed phase of this condition. Furthermore, the depressed phase (even subsyndromal) appears to be the major contributant to the disability related to this condition. CONCLUSIONS: The significance of the depressed phase of bipolar disorder has been markedly underestimated. Bipolar depression accounts for most of the morbidity and mortality due to this illness. Current treatments have significant limitations.     

Antidepressants and suicidal behavior in bipolar disorder

Patients with bipolar disorder are at very high risk for suicidal ideation, non-fatal suicidal behaviors and suicide and are frequently treated with antidepressants. However, no prospective, randomized, controlled study specifically evaluating an antidepressant on suicidality in bipolar disorder has yet been completed. Indeed, antidepressants have not yet been shown to reduce suicide attempts or suicide in depressive disorders and may increase suicidal behavior in pediatric, and possibly adult, major depressive disorder. Available data on the effects of antidepressants on suicidality in bipolar disorder are mixed. Considerable research indicates that mixed states are associated with suicidality and that antidepressants, especially when administered as monotherapy, are associated with both suicidality and manic conversion. In contrast, growing research suggests that antidepressants administered in combination with mood stabilizers may reduce depressive symptoms in patients with bipolar depression. Further, the only prospective, long-term study evaluating antidepressant treatment and mortality in bipolar disorder, although open-label, found antidepressants and/or antipsychotics in combination with lithium, but not lithium alone, reduced suicide in bipolar and unipolar patients (Angst F, et al. J Affect Disord 2002: 68: 167–181). We conclude that antidepressants may induce suicidality in a subset of persons with depressive (and probably anxious) presentations; that this induction may represent a form of manic conversion, and hence a bipolar phenotype, and that lithium's therapeutic properties may include the ability to prevent antidepressant-induced suicidality.     

Suicidal ideation and attempts in bipolar I and II disorders

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have investigated the prevalence of and risk factors for suicidal ideation and attempts among representative samples of psychiatric patients with bipolar I and II disorders. METHOD: In the Jorvi Bipolar Study (JoBS), psychiatric inpatients and outpatients were screened for bipolar disorders with the Mood Disorder Questionnaire from January 1, 2002, to February 28, 2003. According to Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-IV Axis I and II Disorders, 191 patients were diagnosed with bipolar disorders (bipolar I, N = 90; bipolar II, N = 101). Suicidal ideation was measured using the Scale for Suicidal Ideation. Prevalence of and risk factors for ideation and attempts were investigated. RESULTS: During the current episode, 39 (20%) of the patients had attempted suicide and 116 (61%) had suicidal ideation; all attempters also reported ideation. During their lifetime, 80% of patients (N = 152) had had suicidal behavior and 51% (N = 98) had attempted suicide. In nominal regression models, severity of depressive episode and hopelessness were independent risk factors for suicidal ideation, and hopelessness, comorbid personality disorder, and previous suicide attempt were independent risk factors for suicide attempts. There were no differences in prevalence of suicidal behavior between bipolar I and II disorder; the risk factors were overlapping but not identical. CONCLUSION: Over their lifetime, the vast majority (80%) of psychiatric patients with bipolar disorders have either suicidal ideation or ideation plus suicide attempts. Depression and hopelessness, comorbidity, and preceding suicidal behavior are key indicators of risk. The prevalence of suicidal behavior in bipolar I and II disorders is similar, but the risk factors for it may differ somewhat between the two.     

Should mood reactivity be included in the DSM-IV atypical features specifier?

Background The definition of atypical depression is still an unsolved issue. DSM-IV atypical features specifier criteria always require mood reactivity, but why mood reactivity should be included is unclear. The study aim was to test whether mood reactivity should be included in DSM-IV atypical features specifier. Methods Consecutively, 164 unipolar and 241 «soft» bipolar II major depressive episode (MDE) outpatients were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. The DSM-IV criteria for atypical features specifier were strictly followed. Associations were tested by univariate logistic regression. Results MDE with atypical features was present in 41.4 % of patients. Bipolar II disorder was significantly more common in patients with atypical features. MDE with atypical features was significantly associated with bipolar II, female gender, lower age of onset, more axis I comorbidity, fewer psychotic features, and more depressive mixed states. In the whole sample, mood reactivity was significantly associated with all the atypical symptoms, apart from leaden paralysis, and all the other atypical symptoms were significantly associated with each other. In the bipolar II sub-sample, mood reactivity was associated with many, but not all, atypical symptoms, while in the unipolar sub-sample it was associated with no atypical symptom. Atypical symptoms were significantly more common in mood reactive than in non-mood reactive patients, apart from leaden paralysis. Bipolar II disorder and mood reactivity were strongly associated. Conclusions Results may support the inclusion of mood reactivity in the DSM-IV atypical features specifier for bipolar II disorder, but not for unipolar depression.     

伴非典型特征的抑郁症患者自杀未遂的危险因素分析

目的探讨伴非典型特征抑郁症患者自杀未遂的社会人口学及临床特征方面危险因素。方法来自全国13个中心的1172例抑郁症患者,纳入其中179例伴非典型特征患者,依据简明国际神经精神访谈(the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview,MINI)5.0中文版自杀模块的访谈结果,分为自杀未遂组和无自杀未遂组,通过多因素logistic回归分析伴非典型特征的抑郁症患者在性别、年龄等社会人口学资料及伴焦虑症状、伴精神病性症状等临床特征方面可能与自杀未遂相关的危险因素。结果伴非典型特征抑郁症患者自杀未遂的发生率为23.5%(42/179)。与无自杀未遂组患者相比,自杀未遂组患者更多伴有自杀观念、产后起病,更常使用抗抑郁剂以外的其他药物治疗(如抗精神病药、情感稳定剂及苯二氮类药)(均P0.05)。多因素logistic回归分析显示,既往住院次数(OR=1.730,95%CI:1.093~2.740)和自杀观念(OR=3.899,95%CI:1.506~10.092)与伴非典型特征的抑郁症患者发生自杀未遂相关(均P0.05)。结论既往住院次数多及伴有自杀观念是伴非典型特征抑郁症患者自杀未遂的主要危险因素。     

抑郁症门诊患者中未识别出的双相障碍者的临床特征（英文）

背景双相障碍常未被识别或被误诊为单相抑郁。明确未被识别或被误诊的双相障碍者的临床特征有助于减少错误分类。目的调查门诊抑郁症患者中未被识别的双相障碍者的比例,并分析未被识别的双相障碍者的临床特征。方法使用32项轻躁狂症状清单（Hypomania Checklist-32,HCL-32）、心境障碍问卷（Mood Disorder Questionnaire,MDQ）和简明国际神经精神访谈（Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview,MINI）对目前被诊断为抑郁症的100例门诊患者进行调查。对被重新诊断为双相障碍与仍然被诊断为抑郁症的患者的临床特征进行比较分析。结果共有29例（29%）抑郁症门诊患者被诊断为双相障碍;其中双相Ⅰ型6例,双相Ⅱ型23例。与未更改诊断的抑郁症者相比,被重新诊断为双相障碍者年龄轻、起病早、发病次数多、受教育程度高,多为复发性抑郁且多伴精神病性症状。多因素Logistic回归分析显示年龄（OR=0.55,95%CI=0.34~0.89）和精神病性症状（OR=9.12,95%CI=1.56~53.26）是双相障碍的独立危险因素。结论在门诊抑郁症患者中未被识别的双相障碍比例较高,尤其是双相Ⅱ型。与单相抑郁相比,诊断为抑郁症而为未被识别的双相障碍者年龄轻,更可能伴有精神病性症状。     

Suicidal Behaviour in Mood Disorders—Who,When, and Why?

Objective:

About one-half to two-thirds of all suicides are by people who suffer from mood disorders; preventing suicides among those who suffer from them is thus central for suicide prevention. Understanding factors underlying suicide risk is necessary for rational preventive decisions.

Method:

The literature on risk factors for completed and attempted suicide among subjects with depressive and bipolar disorders (BDs) was reviewed.

Results:

Lifetime risk of completed suicide among psychiatric patients with mood disorders is likely between 5% and 6%, with BDs, and possibly somewhat higher risk than patients with major depressive disorder. Longitudinal and psychological autopsy studies indicate suicidal acts usually take place during major depressive episodes (MDEs) or mixed illness episodes. Incidence of suicide attempts is about 20- to 40-fold, compared with euthymia, during these episodes, and duration of these high-risk states is therefore an important determinant of overall risk. Substance use and cluster B personality disorders also markedly increase risk of suicidal acts during mood episodes. Other major risk factors include hopelessness and presence of impulsive–aggressive traits. Both childhood adversity and recent adverse life events are likely to increase risk of suicide attempts, and suicidal acts are predicted by poor perceived social support. Understanding suicidal thinking and decision making is necessary for advancing treatment and prevention.

Conclusion:

Among subjects with mood disorders, suicidal acts usually occur during MDEs or mixed episodes concurrent with comorbid disorders. Nevertheless, illness factors can only in part explain suicidal behaviour. Illness factors, difficulty controlling impulsive and aggressive responses, plus predisposing early exposures and life situations result in a process of suicidal thinking, planning, and acts.     

The effect of pharmacotherapy on suicide rates in bipolar patients

Suicide is a complex and multicausal human behavior and also a great challenge for psychiatry. We review the evidence available concerning pharmacological prevention of suicide in bipolar disorder patients. Several clinical trials provide evidence that effective acute and long-term treatment of bipolar depression provides a strong protection against suicide, suicide attempts, and probably against other complications of this disorder. Current major mood disorder is the most important risk factor of suicide, and bipolar II patients carry the highest risk. In bipolar patients suicidal behavior is most likely to occur during pure or mixed depressive episodes. Since bipolar disorder is a highly recurrent illness, adequate long-term pharmacotherapy is needed to prevent suicidal behavior.     

A 15-year prospective follow-up of bipolar affective disorders: comparisons with unipolar nonpsychotic depression

Goldberg JF, Harrow M. A 15‐year prospective follow‐up of bipolar affective disorders: comparisons with unipolar nonpsychotic depression.
Bipolar Disord 2011: 13: 155–163. © 2011 The Authors.
Journal compilation © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Objectives: Outcome studies have previously documented substantial functional disability among individuals with bipolar disorder, although few follow‐up studies have examined the prospective course of illness beyond 10 years’ duration. Methods: A total of 95 patients with mood disorders (46 with bipolar I disorder and 49 with unipolar nonpsychotic depression) were assessed 15 years after index hospitalization. Logistic and linear regression models were used to identify predictors of global functioning, work disability, and social adjustment. Results: At 15‐year follow‐up, good overall functioning was significantly less common among subjects with bipolar disorder (35%) than unipolar depression (73%) (p < 0.001). Work disability was significantly more extensive in bipolar than unipolar disorder subjects (p < 0.001). Logistic regression indicated that good outcome 15 years after index hospitalization was significantly predicted by a unipolar rather than bipolar disorder diagnosis and the absence of a depressive episode in the preceding year. Past‐year depressive, but not past‐year manic, syndromes were associated with poorer global outcome and greater work disability. In addition, subsyndromal depression was significantly associated with poorer global, work, and social outcome among bipolar, but not unipolar disorder subjects. Conclusions: A majority of individuals with bipolar I disorder manifest problems with work and global functioning 15 years after an index hospitalized manic episode Recurrent syndromal and subsyndromal depression disrupts multiple domains of functional outcome more profoundly in bipolar than unipolar mood disorders. The prevalence, and correlates, of impaired long‐term outcome parallel those reported in shorter‐term functional outcome studies of bipolar disorder.     

Comorbid anxiety in bipolar disorder: does it have an independent effect on suicidality?

Objective:  Comorbid anxiety disorder is reported to increase suicidality in bipolar disorder. However, studies of the impact of anxiety disorders on suicidal behavior in mood disorders have shown mixed results. The presence of personality disorders, often comorbid with anxiety and bipolar disorders, may explain these inconsistencies. This study examined the impact of comorbid Cluster B personality disorder and anxiety disorder on suicidality in bipolar disorder.
Methods:  A total of 116 depressed bipolar patients with and without lifetime anxiety disorder were compared. Multiple regression analysis tested the association of comorbid anxiety disorder with past suicide attempts and severity of suicidal ideation, adjusting for the effect of Cluster B personality disorder. The specific effect of panic disorder was also explored.
Results:  Bipolar patients with and without anxiety disorders did not differ in the rate of past suicide attempt. Suicidal ideation was less severe in those with anxiety disorders. In multiple regression analysis, anxiety disorder was not associated with past suicide attempts or with the severity of suicidal ideation, whereas Cluster B personality disorder was associated with both. The results were comparable when comorbid panic disorder was examined.
Conclusions:  Comorbid Cluster B personality disorder appears to exert a stronger influence on suicidality than comorbid anxiety disorder in persons with bipolar disorder. Assessment of suicide risk in patients with bipolar disorder should include evaluation and treatment of Cluster B psychopathology.     

Is impulsivity a common trait in bipolar and unipolar disorders?

Henna E, Hatch JP, Nicoletti M, Swann AC, Zunta‐Soares G, Soares JC. Is impulsivity a common trait in bipolar and unipolar disorders?
Bipolar Disord 2013: 00: 000–000. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S.Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Objectives: Impulsivity is increased in bipolar and unipolar disorders during episodes and is associated with substance abuse disorders and suicide risk. Impulsivity between episodes predisposes to relapses and poor therapeutic compliance. However, there is little information about impulsivity during euthymia in mood disorders. We sought to investigate trait impulsivity in euthymic bipolar and unipolar disorder patients, comparing them to healthy individuals and unaffected relatives of bipolar disorder patients. Methods: Impulsivity was evaluated by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS‐11A) in 54 bipolar disorder patients, 25 unipolar disorder patients, 136 healthy volunteers, and 14 unaffected relatives. The BIS‐11A mean scores for all four groups were compared through the Games–Howell test for all possible pairwise combinations. Additionally, we compared impulsivity in bipolar and unipolar disorder patients with and without a history of suicide attempt and substance abuse disorder. Results: Bipolar and unipolar disorder patients scored significantly higher than the healthy controls and unaffected relatives on all measures of the BIS‐11A except for attentional impulsivity. On the attentional impulsivity measures there were no differences among the unaffected relatives and the bipolar and unipolar disorder groups, but all three of these groups scored higher than the healthy participant group. There was no difference in impulsivity between bipolar and unipolar disorder subjects with and without suicide attempt. However, impulsivity was higher among bipolar and unipolar disorder subjects with past substance use disorder compared to patients without such a history. Conclusions: Questionnaire‐measured impulsivity appears to be relatively independent of mood state in bipolar and unipolar disorder patients; it remains elevated in euthymia and is higher in individuals with past substance abuse. Elevated attentional and lower non‐planning impulsivity in unaffected relatives of bipolar disorder patients distinguished them from healthy participants, suggesting that increased attentional impulsivity may predispose to development of affective disorders, while reduced attentional impulsivity may be protective.     

Suicide risk in mood disorders

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this review is to highlight the traditional and newly recognized suicide risk factors in patients with mood disorders. RECENT FINDINGS: Current research findings clearly suggest that suicidal behaviour in patients with mood disorder is a 'state-dependent' phenomenon. Recently, there is, however, a growing body of evidence that besides the well accepted clinically explorable suicide risk factors in mood disorders (e.g., severe depression, prior suicide attempt, comorbid anxiety, substance use, personality disorders and so on), mixed state of depression could also be an important precursor of suicidal behaviour. This might be particularly true in unrecognized cases of bipolar depressives, when antidepressant monotherapy (unprotected by mood stabilizers or atypical antipsychotics) can worsen the clinical picture and rarely induce an aggressive or self-destructive behaviour. SUMMARY: In the majority of patients with mood disorders, suicidal behaviour is predictable and preventable, with a good chance. A careful and systematic exploration of suicide risk factors in patients with mood disorder helps clinicians to identify patients at high suicide risk. A successful, acute and long-term treatment of these patients substantially reduces the suicidal behaviour even in this high-risk population.     

Prevalence of bipolar II disorder in atypical depression

The diagnostic validity of atypical depression is based on its superior response to monoamine oxidase inhibitors compared to tricyclic antidepressants, and on latent class analysis. The studies on atypical depression have often not included bipolar patients. The aim of the present study was to find the prevalence of bipolar II disorder among DSM-IV atypical depression outpatients. Bipolar II and unipolar atypical depressions were also compared to find if they were variants of the same disorder or if instead they were different disorders. One hundred and forty consecutive unipolar and bipolar II outpatients, presenting for treatment of an atypical major depressive episode, were interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV, the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), and the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale. The prevalence of bipolar II disorder was 64.2%. The age at baseline and onset were significantly lower in bipolar II versus unipolar patients. All the other variables (MADRS items, duration of illness, severity, gender, psychosis, comorbidity, chronicity, recurrences) were not significantly different. The prevalence of bipolar II disorder among atypical depressed outpatients was higher than previously reported. Received: 27 July 1998 / Accepted: 19 January 1999     

Bipolar II disorder: personality and outcome in two clinical samples

OBJECTIVE: To compare the personality traits and disorders of patients with bipolar II disorder and major depression and to examine the impact on treatment outcome of a bipolar II diagnosis. METHOD: Patients from two clinical trials, a depressive sample (n = 195, 10% bipolar II) and a bulimic sample (n = 135, 16% bipolar II), were assessed for personality traits using DSM-IV criteria. Patients were randomised to treatments (fluoxetine or nortriptyline for depressive sample; cognitive behaviour therapy for bulimic sample) and followed for 3 years (depressive sample) or 5 years (bulimic sample) to assess the impact on outcome of a bipolar II diagnosis. RESULTS: Bipolar II patients were assessed as having more borderline, histrionic and schizotypal personality traits than patients with major depression. A baseline bipolar II diagnosis did not impact negatively on treatment outcome, and less than 5% of bipolar II patients developed bipolar I disorder during follow up. CONCLUSIONS: The low rate of conversion of bipolar II to bipolar I disorder and the lack of adverse impact of the diagnosis on outcome, questions the need for antimanic or mood stabiliser medication in most bipolar II patients.     

The mood spectrum in unipolar and bipolar disorder: arguments for a unitary approach

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the extent to which individuals with a lifetime diagnosis of recurrent unipolar disorder endorse experiencing manic/hypomanic symptoms over their lifetimes and compared their reports with those of patients with bipolar I disorder. METHOD: The study group included 117 patients with remitted recurrent unipolar depression and 106 with bipolar I. Subjects had their clinical diagnosis confirmed by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and were administered the Structured Clinical Interview for the Mood Spectrum, which assesses lifetime symptoms, traits, and lifestyles that characterize threshold and subthreshold mood episodes as well as "temperamental" features related to mood dysregulation. RESULTS: The patients with recurrent unipolar depression endorsed experiencing a substantial number of manic/hypomanic symptoms over their lifetimes. In both patients with recurrent unipolar depression and patients with bipolar I disorder, the number of manic/hypomanic items endorsed was related to the number of depressive items endorsed. In the group with recurrent unipolar depression, the number of manic/hypomanic items was related to an increased likelihood of endorsing paranoid and delusional thoughts and suicidal ideation. In the bipolar I group, the number of lifetime manic/hypomanic items was related to suicidal ideation and just one indicator of psychosis. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a significant number of manic/hypomanic items in patients with recurrent unipolar depression seems to challenge the traditional unipolar-bipolar dichotomy and bridge the gap between these two categories of mood disorders. The authors argue that their mood spectrum approach is useful in making a more accurate diagnostic evaluation in patients with mood disorders.     

Antidepressant monotherapy for bipolar type II major depression

Objectives:  Bipolar type II (BP II) disorder is thought to be distinct from BP I disorder on genetic and biological grounds, and it is not merely a milder form of the illness. It affects 1.5–2.5% of the US adult population, and is characterized by highly recurrent depressive episodes with a substantial morbidity from alcoholism and non-affective psychopathology, and a higher suicide rate than either BP I or unipolar depression. Treatment recommendations for BP II depression are based upon concerns over drug-induced manic-switch episodes, and suggest using either a mood stabilizer alone or a combination of an SSRI plus a mood stabilizer. Recent evidence, however, indicates that the rate of manic switch episodes may be modest in BP II patients. Recent studies have provided evidence that antidepressant monotherapy may be an effective initial and long-term treatment for BP II major depression with a low manic-switch rate.
Methods:  In this article, we review the recent literature on BP II disorder, with a focus on the treatment of BP II major depression.
Results:  We present a summary of data from recent studies by our group and others indicating that antidepressant monotherapy for BP II depression may be safe and effective with a low manic-switch rate.
Conclusion:  Antidepressant monotherapy may be beneficial for some patients with BP II major depression.     

Bipolar depression in a low-income primary care clinic

OBJECTIVE: This study estimated the proportion of patients attending an urban general medical practice with current major depression and a history of bipolar disorder and compared the history, presentation, and treatment of patients with unipolar and bipolar depression. METHOD: A group of 1,143 patients was assessed with measures of past and current mental health and treatment. Patients were partitioned into bipolar and unipolar groups based on a predefined cutoff on the Mood Disorder Questionnaire. The groups were compared on sociodemographic characteristics, depressive symptoms, comorbid mental disorders, and mental health treatment. RESULTS: Approximately one-quarter of the patients with major depression had lifetime bipolar depression. Patients with unipolar and bipolar depression did not significantly differ on background or health characteristics. Patients with bipolar depression were significantly more likely to report hallucinations, current suicidal ideation, and low self-esteem than patients with unipolar depression but less likely to report disturbed appetite. Patients with bipolar depression were significantly more likely to have an alcohol use disorder and to report inpatient psychiatric care and antipsychotic treatment during the past month than patients with unipolar depression. Nearly one-half of the patients with bipolar depression had taken an antidepressant in the last month, but most were not also being treated with an antipsychotic or mood stabilizer. CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar depression is common in urban general medicine practice. When patients took antidepressants, they seldom received concurrent antimanic medications. Because of the risks of treating bipolar disorder with antidepressant monotherapy, physicians should assess their depressed patients for mania before prescribing antidepressants.     

The Kraepelinian dichotomy in terms of suicidal behaviour

The Kraepelinian dichotomy sees schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as two distinctly separate diseases each with its own pathogenesis and disease process. This study looks at the difference between patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in terms of suicidal behaviour. Both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder have been identified as significant risk factors for suicide, while bipolar and major depressive disorder appear to be the greatest diagnostic indicators. This study also aims to look at any differences in suicidal behaviour between the two major classes of bipolar disorder (bipolar I and bipolar II) to possibly determine how distinct these two conditions are in this respect. As expected, this study found that patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder were significantly more likely (OR=4.79) to have a history of suicidal behaviour than patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Neither bipolar I nor bipolar II patients were significantly more likely to have a history of suicidal behaviour. However, this study yielded a weak association between bipolar II patients and suicidal behaviour (OR=1.83) compared to bipolar I patients, which may have been more significant under different circumstances such as a greater sample size.     

Suicide attempts and clinical risk factors in patients with bipolar and unipolar affective disorders

Background

Suicide is an important clinical problem in psychiatric patients. The highest risk of suicide attempts is noted in affective disorders.

Objective

The aim of the study was to look for suicide risk factors among sociodemographic and clinical factors, family history and stressful life events in patients with diagnosis of unipolar and bipolar affective disorder (597 patients, 563 controls).

Method

In the study, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders and the Operational Criteria Diagnostic Checklist questionnaires, a questionnaire of family history, and a questionnaire of personality disorders and life events were used.

Results

In the bipolar and unipolar affective disorders sample, we observed an association between suicidal attempts and the following: family history of psychiatric disorders, affective disorders and psychoactive substance abuse/dependence; inappropriate guilt in depression; chronic insomnia and early onset of unipolar disorder. The risk of suicide attempt differs in separate age brackets (it is greater in patients under 45 years old). No difference in family history of suicide and suicide attempts; marital status; offspring; living with family; psychotic symptoms and irritability; and coexistence of personality disorder, anxiety disorder or substance abuse/dependence with affective disorder was observed in the groups of patients with and without suicide attempt in lifetime history.