Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 73, Issue 3 , Pages 223-228 , February 2003

Lithium, anticonvulsants and suicidal behavior in bipolar disorder

  • Boghos I Yerevanian

      Affiliations

    • Ambulatory Care Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
    • University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. 16111 Plummer St. (116A), North Hills, Sepulveda, CA 91343, USA. Tel.: +1-818-891-7711x7123; fax: +1-818-223-9279
  • ,
  • Ralph J Koek

      Affiliations

    • Ambulatory Care Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, USA
    • University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
  • ,
  • Jim Mintz

      Affiliations

    • University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
    • West Los Angeles VAMC, Biostatistics Consultation Unit, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Received 3 June 2002 ,Accepted 8 July 2002.

References 

  1. Ahrens B, Muller-Oerlinghausen B. Does lithium exert an independent antisuicidal effect?. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2001;34:132–136
  2. Bowden CL, Calabrese JR, McElroy SL, Gyulai L, Wassef A, Petty F, et al. A randomized, placebo-controlled 12-month trial of divalproex and lithium in treatment of outpatients with Bipolar I disorder.. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry. 2000;57(5):490–492
  3. Burgess P, Pirkis J, Morton J, Croke E. Lessons from a comprehensive clinical audit of users of psychiatric services who committed suicide. Psychiatr. Serv. 2000;51:1555–1560
  4. Clements C, Bonacci D, Yerevanian B, Privitera M, Kiehne L. Assessment of suicide risk in patients with personality disorder and major affective diagnosis. Q. Rev. Bull. 1985;150–153 May
  5. Goodwin FK. Anticonvulsant therapy and suicide risk in affective disorders. J. Clin. Psychiatry. 1999;60(Suppl. 2):89–93
  6. Goodwin FK, Ghaemi SN. The impact of mood stabilizers on suicide in bipolar disorder: a comparative analysis. CNS Spectrums. 2000;5(2 Suppl. 1):12–18
  7. Goodwin FK, Jamison KR. In: Manic-Depressive Illness. New York: Oxford University Press; 1990;p. 227–244
  8. Guze SB, Robins E. Suicide and primary affective disorders. Br. J. Psychiatry. 1970;117:437–448
  9. Harris EC, Barraclough B. Suicide as an outcome for mental disorders. Br. J. Psychiatry. 1997;170:205–208
  10. Muller-Oerlinghausen B, Muser-Causemann B, Volf J. Suicides and parasuicides in a high-risk group on and off lithium long-term medication. J. Affect. Disord. 1992;25:261–270
  11. Osby U, Brandt L, Correia N, Ekbom A, Sparen P. Excess mortality in bipolar and unipolar disorder in Sweden. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry. 2001;58:844–850
  12. Rihmer Z, Pestality P. Bipolar II disorder and suicidal behavior. Psychiatr. Clin. N. Am. 1999;22:667–673
  13. Schou M. The effect of prophylactic lithium treatment on mortality and suicidal behavior: a review for clinicians. J. Affect. Disord. 1998;50:253–259
  14. Schou M. Suicidal behavior and prophylactic lithium treatment of major mood disorders: a review of reviews. Suicide Life-Threat. Behav. 2000;30:289–293
  15. Simpson SG, Jamison KR. The risk of suicide in patients with bipolar disorders. J. Clin. Psychiatry. 1999;60(Suppl. 2):53–56
  16. Theis-Flechtner K, Muller-Oerlinghausen B, Seibert W, Walther A, Griel W. Effect of prophylactic treatment on suicide risk in patients with major affective disorders: data from a randomized prospective trial. Pharmacopsychiatry. 1996;29:103–107
  17. Tondo L, Baldessarini RJ. Reduced suicide risk during lithium maintenance treatment. J. Clin. Psychiatry. 2000;61(Suppl. 9):97–104
  18. Tondo L, Baldessarini RJ, Floris G, Silvetti F, Hennen J, Tohen M. Lithium treatment and risk of suicidal behavior in bipolar patients. J. Clin. Psychiatry. 1998;59:405–414
  19. Tondo L, Hennen J, Baldessarini RJ. Lower suicide rates with long-term lithium treatment in major affective illness: a meta-analysis. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 2001;104:163–172
  20. Tondo L, Jamison KR, Baldessarini RJ. Effect of lithium maintenance on suicidal behavior in major mood disorders. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 1997;386:339–351

PII: S0165-0327(02)00302-6

Journal of Affective Disorders
Volume 73, Issue 3 , Pages 223-228 , February 2003