Methods

Methods

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Methods

Purpose and Hypothesis

The prediction of suicidal ideation is a burden for clinicians. However, among persons with mood disorders, specifically, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, the rates of suicidal ideation and suicide itself is higher in comparison to ordinary individuals. Despite this, identifying such behavior is difficult. Apparently, every patient experiences a set of disparate risk factors, triggers, and stressors. This makes the prediction of suicide and suicidal ideation among clinicians inaccurate. Nevertheless, in this case, the purpose of the study is comparing bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder in order to determine which of these leads to higher suicidal ideation. I predicted that the inclination towards suicidal ideation was as evident among patients with bipolar disorder as it was present among patients with major depressive disorder. Factors such as misdiagnosis of BD as MDD have altered information regarding the occurrence of suicidal ideation and suicide among patients with BD and MDD. Despite the primary hypothesis, I also predicted that other factors such as suicidal attempts and seriousness of depression were also involved in the occurrence of suicidal ideation in relation to the mentioned mood disorders.

Samples/Participants

Patients who were undergoing treatment for major depressive disorder between the age of 18 and 77 were appropriate for incorporation within the study. As such, it is canonical to assert that the objective of this study involves establishing the most appropriate alternative towards the prediction of suicidal ideation and suicide in relation to the respective mood disorders. Despite this, it is evident that patients with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder experience considerable levels of suicidal ideation at potentially comparable levels. A summation of 300 patients with DSM – III – R major mood impairment was accepted within the research after submitting their informed consent. 70 percent of these participants had major depressive disorder while 30 percent had bipolar disorder. 90 percent of the research patients were enrolled as inpatients. All of the participants went through a body evaluation, usual blood tests, and a urine toxicology examination. The criteria for exclusion comprised alcohol indulgence and substance abuse, neurological diseases, or present medical conditions that may affect diagnosis.

Materials/Measures

Foremost, it was imperative to define a suicidal ideation. As a result, the rate, technique, and level of damage caused during suicidal attempts were recorded on a suicide chronicle form. Additionally, suicidal ideation was identified via a scale, which evaluated the rate at which the process was evident among the participants. With both scales, it was possible to determine the score of suicidal ideation and attempts among the assessed participants. Depending on the score, each scale provided a platform for evaluating the differences among patients with BD and MDD in relation to the occurrence of suicidal ideation and participation in suicide attempts among the test subjects.

Procedure

Based on the two sets of participants based on bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder, two prospective evaluations were performed. The foremost assessment comprised all of the factors discovered as part of a history of suicidal behavior among the patients. Additionally, the analysis was conducted in order to create a record of most considerable predictors of suicide in comparison with suicidal ideation. In the following analysis, the responsibility of past diathesis qualities was evaluated. Qualities such as the inclination towards pessimism and impulsivity were assessed in order to determine whether there was susceptibility towards suicidal ideation among the participants.