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This study aims to evaluate sociodemographic and clinical factors, quality of life (QoL) and functioning associated with history of suicide attempts (SA) in a sample of bipolar disorder (BD) type I patients. A total of 417 BD type I patients, with and without history of SA were recruited from two Brazilian specialized Mood Disorder Centers. They were assessed with a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire, the Young Mania Rating Scale, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, the Structured Clinical Interviews for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders, the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF, and the Sheehan Disability Scale. One hundred and seventy-nine (42.9%) patients had a history of SA. There were no statistically significant sociodemographic differences between BD patients with and without a history of SA. Logistic regression found that lifetime hospitalization, comorbid anxiety disorders, depressive polarity in the first episode, current intensity of depressive symptoms, history of rapid cycling, family history of suicide and age at onset were significantly associated with SA in BD. Multiple linear regression showed that SA had no effect on QoL and functioning, which were affected mainly by comorbid anxiety disorders and current intensity of depressive symptoms, even in patients considered euthymic. Suicidal behavior in patients with BD is a complex phenomenon and reflects a more severe course of illness. Patients with history of SA may have worse QoL and functional impairment not because of its direct effect, but because of the greater association with clinical factors related to poor prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]