Association of Predominant Polarity With a History of Suicide Attempts in Patients With Bipolar Disorder
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objectives Bipolar disorder is associated with a high risk of suicide.While various risk factors have been identified, the relationship between suicide attempts and the clinical characteristics reflecting the longitudinal course of illness-such as predominant polarity-is unclear.This study examined the demographic and clinical factors associated with a history of suicide attempts in patients with bipolar disorder.Methods This retrospective observational study included 48 patients with bipolar disorder, classified into a suicide attempt group (SG; n=12, mean age 41.33±9.1 years, M:F=8:4) and a nonsuicide attempt group (NSG; n=36, mean age 49.86±13.7 years, M:F=20:16).The demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between the groups, and the factors associated with a history of suicide attempts were analyzed.Results No significant differences in age, sex, age at onset, family history, comorbidities, psychotic features, or polarity of the first mood episode were observed between the two groups.Despite this, the proportion of patients with depressive predominant polarity was significantly higher in the SG than in the NSG (p=0.04).In addition, depressive predominant polarity and mood-congruent psychotic features were significantly associated with a history of suicide attempts (p= 0.045 and p=0.025, respectively).Conclusion These findings suggest that depressive predominant polarity may be associated with suicide attempts in bipolar disorder.Hence, the clinical characteristics reflecting the longitudinal course of illness, such as predominant polarity, may be useful for a suicide risk assessment.Nevertheless, larger prospective studies will be needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms
Source: 신경정신의학
Institutions: Chosun University Hospital, Chosun University
Language: Korean
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7204687608