The association between emotion dysregulation and suicidal ideation in males with bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder in remission; a comparative study

Abstract Background Higher mental health burden is linked to emotional disorder. Even in remission, emotional dysregulation is a marker of both bipolar and major depressive disorders (Cureus 12:e9581, 2020). Their prognosis and clinical course may be impacted by emotional dysregulation. It has been demonstrated to be a biological marker of adult suicide risk (J Affect Disord 283:267–277, 2021). Suicidal thoughts and actions have been considered coping strategies for unpleasant emotions (Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 21:30–36, 2020). Methods Seventy five male participants were divided into 3 groups, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), Bipolar I Disorder (BD), and a Control group. They were evaluated by the Psychiatric Semi-Structured Interview of Kasr Al Ainy. Diagnosis was depending on the DSM-5 Criteria. Remission was established utilizing the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) and Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS). The Difficulties in emotion dysregulation scale (DERS) and Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI) were applied to evaluate and correlate emotion dysregulation and suicidal ideation among the 3 groups. Results Thoughts of suicide and emotional dysregulation were substantially positively associated in BD ( r = 0.486, p = 0.014), the subscales mostly correlated; were Limited Access to Emotion Regulation Strategies subscale and the Impulse Control Difficulty subscale. There was a non-statistically substantial positive association between emotional dysregulation and suicidal ideation in MDD ( r = 0.055, P = 0.792). Regarding the DERS score, there was a statistically substantial variation between MDD and control groups ( p = 0.001) and between BD and control groups ( p = 0.001). Conclusion This study suggests that male cases with bipolar disorder and male cases with major depressive disorder, who are currently in remission, have a low ability to regulate their emotions. This research also indicates that in male cases with bipolar disorder, emotion dysregulation is positively correlated with suicidal ideation.