Lifetime subthreshold mania is related to suicidality in posttraumatic stress disorder.
BACKGROUND
Although the association between mood disorders, and particularly bipolar disorders, comorbidity and suicidality in posttraumatic (PTSD) patients is well established, less information is available on the impact of subsyndromal mood symptoms. The aim of the present study was, thus, to explore the frequency and relationship between subthreshold mood symptoms, assessed by a specific and validated questionnaire, and suicidality in PTSD patients.


METHODS
Sixty-five PTSD outpatients without bipolar disorders and 65 healthy control subjects were asked to complete the Mood Spectrum-SR-Lifetime Version (MOODS-SR), a questionnaire exploring the presence of subthreshold affective symptoms. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationships between suicidality, explored by six items of the MOODS-SR combined and dichotomized to denote the presence or absence of suicidal ideations/plans and/or attempts, and the number of manic/hypomanic or depressive symptoms.


RESULTS
Statistically significant and positive associations were found between the presence of manic/hypomanic and depressive symptoms and the likelihood of suicidal ideation or attempts.


CONCLUSIONS
Besides depressive, even subthreshold manic/hypomanic features seem to be associated with higher suicidality in PTSD patients.
Dell'osso
Liliana
L
Dipartimento di Psichiatria, Neurobiologia, Farmacologia e Biotecnologie, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Carmassi
Claudia
C
Rucci
Paola
P
Ciapparelli
Antonio
A
Paggini
Rosemma
R
Ramacciotti
Carla E
CE
Conversano
Ciro
C
Balestrieri
Matteo
M
Marazziti
Donatella
D
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires