Risk factors of attempted suicide in bipolar disorder.

Suicide rates of bipolar patients are among the highest of any psychiatric disorder, and improved identification of risk factors for attempted and completed suicide translates into improved clinical outcome. Factors that may be predictive of suicidality in an exclusively bipolar population are examined. White race, family suicide history, and history of cocaine abuse were predictive of suicidal histories. Gender, nicotine use, medical comorbidity, and history of alcohol and other drug abuse were not, although a trend was noted for a history of benzodiazepine abuse. Attempts, although less common among African Americans, were equally as violent. Likewise, attempts were as violent among females as males, in distinction to general population studies.