Abstract
This study examines how relationship quality in family and peer domains are associated with suicidal ideation (SI) in youth with bipolar disorder (BP). We assessed 404 Course and Outcome of Bipolar Youth study participants for psychiatric disorders and SI at intake and for family/peer relationships the month after intake. Multivariate logistic regression examined associations between relationships and SI, controlling for significant covariates. There were 144 youth (36%) who reported SI at intake; bivariate analyses indicated they had significantly worse family/peer relationships. Multivariate analyses showed that family/peer relationships were associated with current SI, controlling for significant covariates. Results support associations between poor relationships and SI in BP youth, regardless of current mood symptom severity. Clinicians should assess relationships when completing risk assessments with BP youth.
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
Sewall, Salk, and Liao do not have any conflicts of interest to report.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Craig Jeffrey Robb Sewall
Craig Jeffrey Robb Sewall, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Tina R. Goldstein
Tina R. Goldstein, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Rachel H. Salk
Rachel H. Salk, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
John Merranko
John Merranko, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Mary K. Gill
Mary K. Gill, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Michael Strober
Michael Strober, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, LA, USA; David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Martin B. Keller
Martin B. Keller, Bradley Hospital, East Providence, RI, USA.
Danella Hafeman
Danella Hafeman, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Neal D. Ryan
Neal D. Ryan, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Shirley Yen
Shirley Yen, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI, USA; Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Heather Hower
Heather Hower, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI, USA; Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University School of Public Health, State Providence, RI, USA.
Fangzi Liao
Fangzi Liao, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Boris Birmaher
Boris Birmaher, Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.