More Than Half of Bipolar Suicides Happen Off Medication
People with bipolar disorder face a much higher risk of suicide than the general population. A large nationwide study from South Korea helps clarify which commonly used bipolar medications are linked to lower suicide risk in everyday clinical practice.
Because South Korea has a single national health insurance system, the dataset covered almost the entire population. This allowed the researchers to track suicide attempts and deaths over time and relate them to specific medication periods.
What Medication Was The Most Effective?
The study focused on three main types of treatment:
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Lithium was linked to a 40% lower risk of suicide attempts or death.
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Valproate showed a 25% reduction in suicide risk.
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Atypical antipsychotics alone didn’t reduce suicide risk.
Some drug combinations, such as lithium and atypical antipsychotics, also showed risk reduction.
More than half of all suicide events occurred during periods when patients were not taking medications at all.
How These Medications Work
Lithium and valproate stabilize mood over the long term and may reduce impulsivity and emotional extremes that can lead to suicidal behavior. Atypical antipsychotics may help further by reducing agitation, aggression, or severe mood symptoms when used alongside mood stabilizers.
The study has limitations, but the overall message is clear: consistent treatment matters.