Researchers from the Karolinska Institute found that fewer boys commit suicide in areas of Sweden with more adolescents diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Study published in the journal JAMA Psychiatrypoints to the importance of more active diagnosis of mental disorders to reduce the number of suicides.
The study’s authors used data from all regions of Sweden over the period from 2008 to 2021. Results, which included 585 confirmed suicides in this age group, showed large regional variations in the percentage of youth diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
“Our results show that suicide rates among boys are approximately 5% lower in regions with the highest number of bipolar disorder diagnoses than in regions with the lowest diagnoses. “This shows that the suicide rate among young men in Sweden can be reduced by improving the diagnosis and treatment of the disorder.”
Bipolar disorder usually begins between the ages of 12 and 25 and is characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. Previous research has shown that it can take up to six years to diagnose and treat bipolar disorder.