Risk of Suicide Attempt and Suicide Death in Patients Treated for Bipolar Disorder

Computerized records were used to identify 32,360 individuals treated for bipolar disorder in two large prepaid health plans. Suicide attempts were identified using computerized records of outpatient visit diagnoses & hospital discharge diagnoses. Suicides were identified using state death certificate data. Overall event rates were 1.06 per 1,000 person-years for suicide, 5.6 per 1,000 person-years for suicide attempt leading to hospitalization, & 13.9 per 1,000 person-years for suicide attempt not leading to hospitalization. Men had a significantly lower rate of suicide attempt but a higher rate of suicide. Suicide attempts were significantly more frequent among younger patients. The predictors of suicide differed markedly from predictors of suicide attempt. (23 refs.)