In this study, we focused on the correlations between life events, affective temperaments and suicidal attempts among patients with bipolar disorder.

Patients with DSM IV diagnosis of bipolar I or bipolar II disorders were recruited from psychiatric consultation of the Farhat Hached Hospital in Sousse. All bipolar patients were in remission for at least four weeks. Suicidal attempts were checked by interrogating patients and consulting medical observations. Affective temperament dimensions were determined by using the Arabic version of TEMPS-A. The assessment of life events was based on the Paykel scale.

A total of 57 patients (47 with bipolar I disorder and 10 with bipolar II disorder) have participated in the study, with a mean age of 41,8 ± 11,3 years and a gender ratio of 2,29. Suicidal attempt number was positively correlated with depressive (p=0,021) and anxious (p=0,015) temperament, early orphanage (p=0,008) and the total number of life events (p=0,011). It was also correlated with the global negative impact of these events (p=0,036).

According to our findings, life events and their negative impact, early parental loss and anxious and depressive temperaments predispose to suicidal attempts among patients with bipolar disorder. Further prospective studies are required to confirm these results.