Prospective Study of Clinical Predictors of Suicidal Acts After a Major Depressive Episode in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Disorder

In addition to obtaining a history of suicidal behavior, clinicians may find it useful to assess patients' current level of pessimism, aggressive/impulsive traits, and comorbidity with substance use disorders, including nicotine-related disorders, to help identify patients at risk for suicidal behavior after major depression. Interventions such as aggressive pharmacotherapeutic prophylaxis to prevent relapse or recurrence of depressive symptoms may protect such at-risk individuals from future suicidal behavior.