Perceived loneliness and social support in bipolar disorder: relation to suicidal ideation and attempts
Abstract Background The suicide rate in bipolar disorder (BD) is among the highest across all psychiatric disorders. Identifying modifiable variables that relate to suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in BD may inform prevention strategies. Social connectedness is a modifiable variable found to r...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2024-03-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Bipolar Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40345-024-00329-8 |
| _version_ | 1827310387810271232 |
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| author | Chelsea K. Pike Katherine E. Burdick Caitlin Millett Jessica M. Lipschitz |
| author_facet | Chelsea K. Pike Katherine E. Burdick Caitlin Millett Jessica M. Lipschitz |
| author_sort | Chelsea K. Pike |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The suicide rate in bipolar disorder (BD) is among the highest across all psychiatric disorders. Identifying modifiable variables that relate to suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in BD may inform prevention strategies. Social connectedness is a modifiable variable found to relate to STBs in the general population, but differences exist across subgroups of the general population and findings specifically in BD have been equivocal. We aimed to clarify how perceived social connectedness relates to STBs in BD. Method 146 adults (86 BD, 60 healthy controls) completed clinical interviews (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5) and self-report measures of loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) and social support (Interpersonal Support Evaluation List). Analyses explored differences in indicators of social connectedness (loneliness and social support) between BD participants and healthy controls, and explored relationships between STBs (lifetime suicide attempts and current suicidal ideation) and indicators of social connectedness in BD participants. Results BD participants reported significantly higher loneliness and lower social support than healthy controls. In BD participants, perceived social support was significantly related to both ever having attempted suicide and number of lifetime attempts. Interestingly, perceived loneliness, but not social support, was significantly associated with current suicidal ideation. Conclusions Findings expand the evidence base supporting a relationship between perceived social connectedness and STBs in BD. They suggest that this modifiable variable could be a fruitful treatment target for preventing STBs in BD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:00:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-28fc863c3ada440787221afb4f3307e0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2194-7511 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T20:00:03Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Bipolar Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-28fc863c3ada440787221afb4f3307e02024-03-24T12:08:29ZengSpringerOpenInternational Journal of Bipolar Disorders2194-75112024-03-011211610.1186/s40345-024-00329-8Perceived loneliness and social support in bipolar disorder: relation to suicidal ideation and attemptsChelsea K. Pike0Katherine E. Burdick1Caitlin Millett2Jessica M. Lipschitz3Department of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s HospitalDepartment of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s HospitalNorthwellDepartment of Psychiatry, Brigham and Women’s HospitalAbstract Background The suicide rate in bipolar disorder (BD) is among the highest across all psychiatric disorders. Identifying modifiable variables that relate to suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) in BD may inform prevention strategies. Social connectedness is a modifiable variable found to relate to STBs in the general population, but differences exist across subgroups of the general population and findings specifically in BD have been equivocal. We aimed to clarify how perceived social connectedness relates to STBs in BD. Method 146 adults (86 BD, 60 healthy controls) completed clinical interviews (Hamilton Depression Rating Scale; Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5) and self-report measures of loneliness (UCLA Loneliness Scale) and social support (Interpersonal Support Evaluation List). Analyses explored differences in indicators of social connectedness (loneliness and social support) between BD participants and healthy controls, and explored relationships between STBs (lifetime suicide attempts and current suicidal ideation) and indicators of social connectedness in BD participants. Results BD participants reported significantly higher loneliness and lower social support than healthy controls. In BD participants, perceived social support was significantly related to both ever having attempted suicide and number of lifetime attempts. Interestingly, perceived loneliness, but not social support, was significantly associated with current suicidal ideation. Conclusions Findings expand the evidence base supporting a relationship between perceived social connectedness and STBs in BD. They suggest that this modifiable variable could be a fruitful treatment target for preventing STBs in BD.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40345-024-00329-8Bipolar disorderLonelinessSocial supportSuicide |
| spellingShingle | Chelsea K. Pike Katherine E. Burdick Caitlin Millett Jessica M. Lipschitz Perceived loneliness and social support in bipolar disorder: relation to suicidal ideation and attempts International Journal of Bipolar Disorders Bipolar disorder Loneliness Social support Suicide |
| title | Perceived loneliness and social support in bipolar disorder: relation to suicidal ideation and attempts |
| title_full | Perceived loneliness and social support in bipolar disorder: relation to suicidal ideation and attempts |
| title_fullStr | Perceived loneliness and social support in bipolar disorder: relation to suicidal ideation and attempts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceived loneliness and social support in bipolar disorder: relation to suicidal ideation and attempts |
| title_short | Perceived loneliness and social support in bipolar disorder: relation to suicidal ideation and attempts |
| title_sort | perceived loneliness and social support in bipolar disorder relation to suicidal ideation and attempts |
| topic | Bipolar disorder Loneliness Social support Suicide |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40345-024-00329-8 |
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