Abnormal Psychology Exam 2 Practice 2026 – All-in-One Guide to Master Your Exam!

Suicide attempts are most characteristic of mood disorders. When someone experiences a major depressive episode or depressive phases in bipolar disorder, intense hopelessness, worthlessness, and an inability to see improvement can lead to suicidal behavior. This link is stronger than with ADHD (where impulsivity is present but not defined by suicidality), eating disorders (where risk can exist but is not the defining feature), or dissociative disorders (which focus on dissociation and identity issues). So, given a suicide attempt in the context of a psychological disorder, a mood disorder is the best match, such as major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder with depressive features.