Chiara Arici1, Laura Cremaschi2, Cristina Dobrea2, Matteo Vismara2, Benedetta Grancini2, Beatrice Benatti2, Massimiliano Buoli2, Shefali Miller3, Terence A Ketter3, A Carlo Altamura2, Bernardo Dell'Osso4. 1. Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: chiararici@gmail.com. 2. Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico, Milan, Italy. 3. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Bipolar Disorders Clinic, Stanford Medical School, Stanford University, CA, USA. 4. Department of Psychiatry, University of Milan, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Policlinico, Milan, Italy; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Bipolar Disorders Clinic, Stanford Medical School, Stanford University, CA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The risk of suicide in Bipolar Disorder (BD) has been estimated up to 20-30 times higher compared with the general population. Previous suicide attempts (SAs) represent a well-established risk factor for further attempts and for death by suicide in patients with psychiatric disorders. However, little is known about the socio-demographic and clinical profile of BD patients with a history of multiple SAs (MSAs). The present study sought to characterize BD patients with MSAs versus single suicide attempt (SSA) within a large Italian sample. METHODS: An original sample of 354 bipolar patients, recruited at the University Clinic and related community services at the Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico of Milan (Italy), was screened for the presence of previous SAs (n=95). Socio-demographic and clinical variables were then compared between patients with multiple vs single lifetime suicide attempts. RESULTS: Bipolar patients with MSAs versus SSA had longer bipolar illness duration (26.9±12.6 vs 21.2±12.8years; p=0.05), and more frequently lived alone (38.5% vs 17.2%; p<0.05), had more than one psychiatric comorbidity (39.3% vs 17.5%; p=0.04), and utilized substance ingestion (e.g., overdose) (78.6% vs 47.2%, p=0.009), although the latter was the most common suicide attempt method in both groups. CONCLUSION: Present findings suggest different socio-demographic and clinical characteristics in bipolar patients with MSAs versus SSA. Further investigation is needed to confirm reported data.
BACKGROUND: The risk of suicide in Bipolar Disorder (BD) has been estimated up to 20-30 times higher compared with the general population. Previous suicide attempts (SAs) represent a well-established risk factor for further attempts and for death by suicide in patients with psychiatric disorders. However, little is known about the socio-demographic and clinical profile of BDpatients with a history of multiple SAs (MSAs). The present study sought to characterize BDpatients with MSAs versus single suicide attempt (SSA) within a large Italian sample. METHODS: An original sample of 354 bipolarpatients, recruited at the University Clinic and related community services at the Department of Psychiatry, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico of Milan (Italy), was screened for the presence of previous SAs (n=95). Socio-demographic and clinical variables were then compared between patients with multiple vs single lifetime suicide attempts. RESULTS:Bipolarpatients with MSAs versus SSA had longer bipolar illness duration (26.9±12.6 vs 21.2±12.8years; p=0.05), and more frequently lived alone (38.5% vs 17.2%; p<0.05), had more than one psychiatric comorbidity (39.3% vs 17.5%; p=0.04), and utilized substance ingestion (e.g., overdose) (78.6% vs 47.2%, p=0.009), although the latter was the most common suicide attempt method in both groups. CONCLUSION: Present findings suggest different socio-demographic and clinical characteristics in bipolarpatients with MSAs versus SSA. Further investigation is needed to confirm reported data.