Dr. J. Michael Bostwick answers the question: 'Bipolar Disorder And Suicide?'
Question: What is the relationship between bipolar disorder and suicide?
Answer: The relationship between bipolar disorder and suicide is a matter of continuing research. It does appear as if there is an elevated rate of suicide in bipolar disorder particularly in the depressed phase. And there is some evidence to suggest that people who were able to stay on lithium for at least two years have a reduced rate of suicide. Certainly when people are in mixed states -- that is both manic and depressed -- or are severely depressed, they're more likely to contemplate, attempt, or even complete suicide.
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