Clinical Predictors of Suicidal Acts After Major Depression in Bipolar Disorder: a Prospective Study

64 patients with DSM-III-R bipolar disorder were assessed at presentation for treatment of a major depressive episode. Correlates of past suicidal behaviour were determined by comparing patients with & without a history of suicide attempts. Putative predictors of attempts during the 2-year follow-up period were tested separately. 12 patients had least one suicide attempt during follow-up. All attempters had a past history of suicide attempts. Most predictors of future suicidal behaviour were correlates of past suicidal behaviour. Family history of suicide acts & comorbid borderline personality disorder predicted early attempts, while younger age, high hostility scores, number of past attempts, subjective pessimism, & few reported reasons for living predicted suicidal acts during the whole period. (51 refs)