Suicide Risk in Depression and Bipolar Disorder: do Impulsiveness-Aggressiveness and Pharmacotherapy Predict Suicidal Intent?

The aims of this study were to examine clinical, personality, & sociodemographic predictors of suicide risk in a sample of 74 inpatients with major affective disorders. Patients completed a semi-structured interview, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the Aggression Questionnaire, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, & the Hamilton scales for depression & anxiety. Over 52% of the patients were high suicide risks. Those at risk reported more severe depressive-anxious symptomatology, more impulsivity, & more hostility. Impulsivity & antidepressant use were the strongest predictors even after controlling for several sociodemographic & clinical variables.