Introduction: Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental disorder, more specifically a mood disorder. It is a lifelong illness with a fluctuating course, reflected in episodes of mood swings. It often affects the daily life activities of sufferers, causing cognitive and functional impairment and thus reducing their quality of life. The profound impact of mental illness on the daily life of sufferers, and the consequent reduction in the quality of life of sufferers, increases the likelihood of suicide. People with bipolar disorder are characterised by a higher mortality rate, with suicidality having the greatest impact. Purpose: The aim of this study is to explore, through a literature review, the problems and risk factors faced by patients with bipolar disorder who have suicidal ideation and to explore nursing interventions that have a positive impact on reducing suicide risk in the management of patients with bipolar disorder. Methods: A descriptive method was used through a review of professional and scientific literature. The literature search took place from December 2023 to February 2024 using the University of Ljubljana´s Digital Library (DiKUL), Google Scholar and bibliographic databases PubMed and CINAHL Ultimate. Results: Risk factors for suicidal behavior in patients with bipolar disorder include recent affective episodes, a history of previous suicide attempts, psychotic symptoms, previous hospitalizations, and aggression. The authors emphasized that a key element in reducing the risk of suicidal thoughts is the accurate assessment of specific psychotic symptoms. It is important to closely monitor patients with mixed episodes. Healthcare activities that have a preventive effect on reducing the risk of suicide in patients with bipolar disorder include accurate assessment of patient adherence to therapy by healthcare professionals, patient care to improve understanding of the disease and acquire a positive identity, training healthcare staff to reduce the burden on nurses, creating good conditions for honest and open communication with patients, striking the right balance between establishing genuine contact with patients and monitoring the treatment process, and maintaining professionalism. It was found that it is also important for healthcare staff to take care of themselves and that sufficient formal support is needed to reduce the workload of nurses. Discussion and conclusion: It is well known that mortality rates among patients with bipolar disorder are higher due to suicidal tendencies. By raising awareness of the risk factors that contribute to increased suicidal thoughts, patients can recognize their problems and seek appropriate help. By implementing healthcare activities and creating a supportive environment, we can influence the reduction of suicidal thoughts in patients with bipolar disorder. In the future, detailed research should also be conducted in the Slovenian environment with the aim of improving care for these patients in Slovenia. Based on the research, recommendations could be developed to assist healthcare professionals working in the field of psychiatry.
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