Is There a Window of Heightened Suicide Risk If Patients Gain Energy in the Context of Continued Depressive Symptoms?

The authors' purpose is to provide some empirical perspective on the important but understudied possibility that when people become more energetic in the context of continued depressive symptoms, suicide risk escalates. The authors studied 109 suicidal young adults; among those who initially reported substantial depression, a subgroup was identified whose energy was increasing in context of continued depressive symptoms. They were compared with others with regard to suicidality 1 month later. Results suggested that those who have incomplete remissions (of any sort) may be more ill to begin with, and this may account for higher suicide risk. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)