Correlates of suicide attempt history in bipolar disorder: a stress-diathesis perspective

Distinguishing clinical characteristics of bipolar patients who have made a suicide attempt may help to identify at-risk individuals. We sought to identify such factors and to consider them within a stress-diathesis model of suicidal behavior.

Patients with bipolar disorder (N = 96) were compared with respect to the presence or absence at baseline evaluation of a history of suicide attempt. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the unique associations of independent variables to history of a past suicide attempt.

The regression analysis showed that a history of suicide attempt in bipolar disorder was associated with greater recent suicidal ideation, more psychiatric hospitalizations, lifetime aggressive traits and an earlier age at onset of a first mood episode.

Aggressive traits and early treatment of mood disorders, especially major depressive episodes, are potential targets for suicide prevention in bipolar disorder.