Performance in inhibitory control during euthymia is not related to past suicide attempts in individuals with bipolar disorder

• Published in: The European journal of psychiatry Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 153 - 159
• Main Authors: Hasse-Sousa, M., Martins, D.S., Petry-Perin, C., Arrial-Cordeiro, R.T., Rabelo-da-Ponte, F.D., Rosa, A.R., Bücker, J., Gama, C.S., Czepielewski, L.S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier España, S.L.U 01.07.2020
• Subjects: Bipolar disorder; Cognition; Inhibitory control; Suicide; Bipolar disorder; Inhibitory control; Cognition; Suicide
• ISSN: 0213-6163; 2340-4469
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpsy.2020.04.003

Individuals with bipolar disorder have an elevated risk of suicide. One hypothesis is that deficits in inhibitory control may play a significant part in suicidal behavior. However, the relationship between inhibitory control and suicide behavior in bipolar disorder is still unclear. This study aims, therefore, to investigate the effects of inhibitory control with other clinical variables on the likelihood that individuals with bipolar disorder have had previous suicide attempts. 96 euthymic individuals with bipolar disorder were recruited and underwent a clinical interview. Inhibitory control was measured through the Stroop Color-Word Test. A logistic regression model was conducted to investigate the effects of multiple hospitalizations, age of disease diagnosis, family history of severe mental disorders, sex and inhibitory control performance, controlling for age and estimated intellectual functioning. The model revealed statistically significant main effects of multiple hospitalizations, female sex and family history of psychiatric disorders. Unexpectedly, inhibitory control performance was not a significant predictor, even after designing a new model excluding the clinical variables. Current inhibitory control performance was not related to the likelihood of previous suicide attempts in individuals with BD, reinforcing the evidence of major effects of clinical risk factors. It may play an indirect role in suicidal behavior, however, as it may be related to greater illness severity, which, in turn, may be related to more severe episodes and increased suicidal behavior.