Multi-national research identifies behaviors associated with suicide

Borderline personality disorder and substance abuse disorder were comorbid diagnoses most commonly associated with attempted suicide.

Multi-national research identifies behaviors associated with suicide

Research presented at the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology Congress indicate behavior patterns associated with suicide, which may aid clinicians in identifying patients who will eventually attempt suicide.

Dina Popovic, PhD, of the University of Barcelona in Barcelona, and colleagues conducted standard mental health interviews among 2,811 patients with depression — 628 of whom had attempted suicide — to identify history of suicide, family history, current and previous treatment, clinical presentation and Global Assessment of Functioning scale scores.

Analysis indicated depressive mixed states often preceded attempted suicide, as more patients who attempted suicide exhibited depressive mixed states than those who did not attempt suicide.

Past responses to antidepressants of patients who attempted suicide included more hypomanic switches (OR = 1.97; 95% CI, 1.58-2.44), treatment resistance (OR = 2.07; 95% CI, 1.72-2.49), mood lability (OR = 1.98; 95% CI, 1.65-2.39) and irritability (OR = 1.8; 95% CI, 1.48-2.17).

Hypomanic symptoms associated with attempted suicide included risky behavior (OR = 2.11; 95% CI, 1.51-2.97), psychomotor agitation (OR = 1.452; 95% CI, 1.14-1.86; P = .003) and impulsivity (OR = 1.267; 95% CI, 0.97-1.66).

Borderline personality disorder and substance abuse disorder were comorbid diagnoses most commonly associated with attempted suicide.

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