EFFECTS OF NEUROTICISM ON SUICIDE RISK IN MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER AND BIPOLAR DISORDER Open Access

Suicide is the primary cause of death in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar disorder (BD). However, the effects of personality traits on suicide risk in MDD or BD have not been examined sufficiently. This study characterized the personality traits of patients with MDD or BD, and analyzed the association between personality traits and suicide risk in these patients.

The study population comprised 88 MDD patients and 90 BD patients. We assessed lifetime suicide risk by using the SCID-I/P. Additionally, the current suicide risk was judged based on the third item (suicide) of the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Personality traits were determined by the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire.

Lifetime suicide risk was present in 60.7% of the study population. In the entire sample, neuroticism was significantly associated with both lifetime and current suicide risk. Higher scores for neuroticism suggested an increased lifetime suicide risk in the whole cohort. Elevated scores for neuroticism increased the current suicide risk in the MDD group.

For patients with MDD or BD, a higher neuroticism score may indicate a higher lifetime risk of suicide. For patients with MDD, a high neuroticism score signaled an elevated current suicide risk.