Betül BAKAY, Fatmanur AKGÜN KILAVUZ
Klinik Psikiyatri Dergisi - 2026;29(3):168-178
Objective: Suicidal behavior remains a major clinical concern in bipolar disorder even during euthymic periods. This study aimed to compare interpersonal sensitivity, perceived cognitive failures, and affective symptoms in euthymic patients with bipolar disorder with and without a history of suicide attempts, and to examine whether perceived cognitive failures mediate the association between interpersonal sensitivity and suicidal behavior. Method: This cross-sectional study included 68 euthymic patients with bipolar disorder. Participants were divided according to the presence of a history of suicide attempts. All participants were evaluated with the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM), and Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ). Group comparisons, correlation analyses, and bootstrap mediation analyses were performed. Results: Patients with a history of suicide attempts had higher HAM-D (p=.008), CFQ (p=.005), and IPSM total scores (p=.033). The number of lifetime suicide attempts was positively correlated with perceived cognitive failures (r=.38, p<.01) and interpersonal sensitivity (r=.26, p<.05). In the bias-corrected bootstrap mediation model controlling for medical comorbidity, perceived cognitive failures statistically mediated the association between interpersonal sensitivity and the number of suicide attempts ( beta=.138, p=.019), whereas anxiety and depressive symptoms did not. Discussion: Euthymic patients with bipolar disorder and a history of suicide attempts showed greater interpersonal sensitivity and subjective cognitive difficulties. Perceived cognitive failures may represent an important factor involved in the association between interpersonal sensitivity and suicidal behavior. Assessing interpersonal and cognitive factors in addition to mood symptoms may improve the clinical evaluation of suicide risk.
