Risk factors for suicidal behavior in bipolar affective disorder

Aim: Identification of risk factors for suicidal behavior in patients with bipolar affective disorder (BAD). Materials. In a specialized psychiatric department, 164 patients with a verified diagnosis of bipolar disorder were examined. The examined group mostly consisted of women (70.1%) with mean age of 44 [28; 54], while the mean age for men was 35 [30; 51]. A comparative analysis of socio-demographic indicators and clinical-dynamic characteristics of BAD was carried out in two groups of patients with the presence (n=42) and absence (n=122) of suicidal attempts during an affective disorder episode. Statistical data processing was carried out using the SPSS program Statistics v26. Results. A significant proportion of patients with bipolar disorder who made a suicidal attempt (25.6%) was revealed. Patients with a history of suicide attempt, compared with patients without it, were more likely to suffer from BAD type 1, had comorbid personality disorder and alcohol addiction, an earlier age of onset of affective disorder, more frequent exacerbation of affective symptoms, and mixed episodes during BAD. Also, these patients were less adapted: they were more often unmarried, had incomplete higher education, were unemployed or had a disability due to mental illness. Conclusions. A more severe course of bipolar disorder, the presence of comorbid mental pathology and a decrease in the level of social functioning increase the risk of suicidal behavior in patients.