A novel research has found that depressed people showing risky behavior, agitation and impulsivity are 50% more likely to try take their lives. The research paper has found certain behavioral patterns that lead to suicide attempts.

In the study, the researchers assessed 2,811 patients who were suffering from depression. Of them, 628 had attempted suicide. Every patient was interviewed by a psychiatrist. The researchers said their main focus was on knowing the characteristics and behaviors of those who committed suicide.

Those factors were then compared with depressed patients who have not attempted suicide. After comparing, the researchers came to know certain factors that recur before suicide attempts. Dina Popovic, from the Hospital Clinic de Barcelona in Spain, was of the view, “We found that 'depressive mixed states' often preceded suicide attempts. A depressive mixed state is where a patient is depressed, but also has symptoms of 'excitation,' or mania”.

Of all, those who suffer from mixed depression faced highest risk of attempting suicide. Study researchers said that clinician has a big role to play in saving lives of these people. Patients will not be able to tell the symptoms and the clinicians need to talk in detail and inquire directly.

The mentioned symptoms may not always reported spontaneously by the patients. Therefore, they may not be detected, so the research findings are expected to prove helpful for GPs.