Bipolar Disorder First Episode and Suicidal Behavior: are There Differences According to Type of Suicide Attempt?

This study tested the hypothesis that the polarity of the first mood episode may be a marker for suicidal behaviour, particularly the violent subtype. 168 patients with bipolar disorder were grouped according to type of first episode & compared on demographic & clinical variables. Logistic regression tested the association between first episode polarity & suicidal behaviours. Depressed patients had a lifetime history of more suicide attempts. Manic/hypomanic patients had a greater tendency toward attempting violent suicide. Results support the evidence that nonviolent & violent suicide attempters tend to belong to different phenotypic groups. (37 refs.)