Citation

Oquendo MA, Currier D, Mann JJ. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 2006; 114(3): 151-158.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neuroscience, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA. moquendo@neuron.cpmc.columbia.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1600-0447.2006.00829.x

PMID

16889585

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Prospective studies over the past 30 years have identified an array of predictive indicators for suicidal acts in mood disorders. However, prediction of suicidal behavior remains an elusive goal. This paper reviewed evidence from prospective studies for clinical factors that elevate risk of suicidal acts in that group. METHOD: English language prospective studies of suicidal behavior in major depressive and bipolar disorders were examined. RESULTS: The predictors with the best support were a past history of suicidal behavior and the presence of refractory or recurrent depressions. For other risk factors, there was either not enough data to consider them robust or findings were contradictory. CONCLUSION: Future studies must not only be comprehensive in their inclusion of potentially contributing factors, but must also address their relative importance towards the goal of developing predictive models and enhance suicide prevention efforts.

Language: en