Citation

Flores V. M, Asef I. A. Trastor. ánimo 2006; 2(2): 86-93.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Not only in clinical practice but also in diverse studies and revisions, there is a clear correlation between suicide and impulsivity. In affective disorders, this association seems to be particularly notorious in patients with bipolar disorder. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate if the impulsivity trait is associated to the suicidal attempt in bipolar patients, independent to mood compromise.

METHODS: The application of the Barratt Impulsivity Rating Scale (BIS-11) to a total of 41 outpatients. The distribution was: 11 bipolar patients with attempt, 19 bipolar patients without attempt and 11 non bipolar patients with attempt. Limitations: The non bipolar group included patients with episodes not remitted; all the patients were medicated; there was no healthy control group; small size of the sample.

DISCUSSION: In our study the association between the impulsivity trait and suicidal attempt was confirmed in bipolar patients; the higher score in the cognitive subscale in the non bipolar group could be oriented to consider the impulsivity trait as a risk factor of suicide attempts, independent of the type of affective disorder. These findings can have preventive and therapeutic implications.

Language: es