Open J Psychiatry Allied Sci. 2025 Dec 20. Epub ahead of print.

A comparative study of sociodemographic characteristics and clinical risk factors of suicide and suicidal behaviour in bipolar versus unipolar depression.

Chutia P, Das S.

Abstract

Aim of the study: We aim to compare the sociodemographic and clinical risk factors of suicide and suicidal behaviour in patients with bipolar versus unipolar depression. Material and methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted over one year, in the Department of Psychiatry at Gauhati Medical College Hospital, Guwahati, Assam, India. A total of 60 subjects, 30 each of unipolar and bipolar depression with suicidal ideation/attempt, were assessed using a semi-structured proforma for sociodemographic and clinical variables, and diagnosis was made according to the tenth revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) Diagnostic Criteria for Research (DCR). The Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) was applied for the assessment of the severity of depression, and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) for assessment of suicidal behaviour. Descriptive statistics were used for analysis of the data. Results: The mean age of the subjects in the bipolar depression group was 45.67±11.26 years, which is significantly higher (p value <0.001) than the unipolar depression group, 35.93±10.32 years. Majority of subjects in the unipolar group were married compared to the bipolar group, with p=0.028. Both groups were comparable in terms of sex, religion, locality, education, occupation, and socioeconomic status. Among the clinical variables in the bipolar group, the mean age of illness onset was lower, more family history of psychiatric illness, and prior hospitalisation. The total suicide attempt was comparable in both groups; however, the severity of depressive episodes was higher in the unipolar group. Conclusion: Bipolar depression patients with earlier age of onset of illness, lower mean age, and lesser severity of depression had comparable suicidal attempts to those of unipolar depression patients. Further probing regarding the severity and lethality of the suicidal attempts in both groups shall bring more insight to this area.

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