Suicide, suicidality and suicide prevention in affective disorders.
OBJECTIVE
It is well known that functional psychiatric disorders are one of the main causes of suicidal behaviour. This paper discusses the epidemiology and risk factors of suicidal behaviour in affective disorders and goes on to describe the treatment and prevention of such suicidal behaviour.


METHODS
A narrative overview of relevant epidemiological and drug studies.


RESULTS
About 60-70% of patients with acute depression experience suicidal ideas. There is a high incidence of suicide (10-15%) in depressive patients. Psychopharmacological treatment with antidepressants and/or mood stabilizers is the most successful approach to avoid the risk of suicidal behaviour. In addition, psychotherapeutic and psychosocial interventions are of importance.


CONCLUSIONS
Suicidal behaviour and suicide must be considered when treating patients with affective disorders. The complex causation of suicidality has to be borne in mind when considering methods of suicide prevention. In order to obtain the best results, psychosocial, psychotherapeutic and psychopharmacological approaches should be combined, depending on the risk factors of each individual patient.
Möller
H J
HJ
Department of Psychiatry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention
D000928:Antidepressive Agents