Citation

Aizenberg D, Olmer A, Barak Y. J. Affect. Disord. 2006; 91(1): 91-94.

Affiliation

Arbabanel Mental Health Center, Israel; Geha Mental Health Center, Israel.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2005.12.013

PMID

16434107

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder is associated with high risk of suicide. In the elderly suicide rates are the highest of all age groups. There is a paucity of data regarding suicide amongst elderly bipolar patients. Mood stabilizers and particularly lithium are established as "antisuicide" compounds. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the association between exposure to psychotropic drugs and suicide attempts in a cohort of elderly patients suffering from bipolar affective disorder (BAD). METHOD: This was a preliminary, retrospective, matched, case-controlled evaluation over a 10-year period. All records of admissions of patients with BAD (ICD-10) were assessed. The index group comprised all patients who had attempted suicide in the month prior to admission. The control group consisted of the next admission of a patient suffering from BAD, matched for sex and age who had not attempted suicide in the month prior to admission. RESULTS: The index group during the period 1995 to 2004 consisted of 16 patients, (8 men and 8 women.), mean age 74.8+/-1.3 years. The control group patients (N=16) were matched for age (mean 74.3+/-1.5 years) and sex. The number of patients who had a history of a suicide attempt was significantly greater in the index group (7/16 vs., 2/16; p=0.039). In the control group patients treated by both a mood stabilizer and an antidepressant were at a significantly lower risk for recent suicide attempt (p=0.047). LIMITATIONS: Sample size is small, treatments were not standardized and data were collected retrospectively. CONCLUSION: Elderly BAD patients treated with mood stabilizers and antidepressants may be at reduced risk of attempting suicide. These findings need support from prospective randomized trials.