Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.24869/psyd.2023.38

DIFFICULTIES IN EMOTION REGULATION: ARE THEY THE PREVENTABLE CAUSE OF SUICIDE, IMPULSIVITY, AND AGGRESSION IN SCHIZOPHRENIA AND BIPOLAR DISORDER?

Ece Buyuksandalyaci Tunc ; Department of Psychiatry, Maltepe University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
Ozlem Gul ; Bakirkoy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Mental Health and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

Abstract

Background: Difficulties in emotion regulation have begun to be seen as the source of psychopathologies. It is one of the
underlying factors of patients' suicidality, impulsivity, and aggression. This study aims to determine the difficulties in emotion
regulation in schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) patients and their relationship with suicidality, aggression, and
impulsivity. It also emphasizes the importance of emotion regulation in these patients.
Subjects and methods: 52 healthy individuals, 58 BD, and 55 SZ patients in remission were included in the study. The
participants were informed before the study, and their written consent was obtained. Suicide Probability Scale (SPS), Difficulties in
Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11), and Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ) were
administered to all three groups.
Results: DERS scores of patients with BD and SZ were higher than healthy individuals. SPS scores of patients with BD and SZ
were higher than healthy individuals. The motor and total scores of the Barratt Impulsivity Scale (BIS-11) were higher in patients
with BD than in patients with SZ and healthy individuals. According to Spearman correlation analysis, a significant positive
relationship was found between all subscales of DERS and all subscales of SPS; physical aggression, anger, and hostility subscales
of BPAQ; attention and motor subscales of BIS-11.
Conclusion: Suicidality may increase in patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder who have difficulty in emotion
regulation. Determining the difficulties of emotion regulation may contribute to the presumption and prevention of suicides in BD
and SZ patients with a high risk of death by suicide.

Keywords

emotion regulation; suicide; aggression; schizophrenia; bipolar disorder

Hrčak ID:

307219

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/307219

Publication date:

17.4.2023.

Visits: 504 *