Lithium Treatment and Risk of Suicidal Behavior in Bipolar Disorder Patients

The risk of suicidal acts over time & associated factors were analyzed in 310 patients with bipolar disorder. In 5233 patient-years of observation, 58 patients made 90 suicide attempts. Suicidal acts were more common in the course of illness before lithium & were associated with prior attempts, greater proportion of time depressed, & younger age. After the discontinuation of lithium, suicidal acts were more frequent in the first year than at later times or before the start of lithium treatment.