CONTEXT: Both bipolar disorder type I and type II are characterized by frequent affective episode relapse and/or recurrence. An increasingly important goal of therapy is reducing chronicity by preventing or delaying additional episodes. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the continued presence of subsyndromal residual symptoms during recovery from major affective episodes in bipolar disorder is associated with significantly faster episode recurrence than asymptomatic recovery and whether this is the strongest correlate of early episode recurrence among 13 variables examined. DESIGN: An ongoing prospective, naturalistic, and systematic 20-year follow-up investigation of mood disorders: the National Institute of Mental Health Collaborative Depression Study. SETTING: Five academic tertiary care centers. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred twenty-three participants with bipolar disorder (type I or II) were followed up prospectively for a median of 17 years (mean, 14.1 [SD, 6.2] years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Participants defined as recovered by Research Diagnostic Criteria from their index major depressive episode and/or mania were divided into residual vs asymptomatic recovery groups and were compared according to the time to their next major affective episodes. RESULTS: Participants recovering with residual affective symptoms experienced subsequent major affective episodes more than 3 times faster than asymptomatic recoverers (hazard ratio, 3.36; 95% confidence interval, 2.25-4.98; P < .001). Recovery status was the strongest correlate of time to episode recurrence (P < .001), followed by a history of 3 or more affective episodes before intake (P = .007). No other variable examined was significantly associated with time to recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In bipolar disorder, residual symptoms after resolution of a major affective episode indicate that the individual is at significant risk for a rapid relapse and/or recurrence, suggesting that the illness is still active. Stable recovery in bipolar disorder is achieved only when asymptomatic status is achieved.
CONTEXT: Both bipolar disorder type I and type II are characterized by frequent affective episode relapse and/or recurrence. An increasingly important goal of therapy is reducing chronicity by preventing or delaying additional episodes. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the continued presence of subsyndromal residual symptoms during recovery from major affective episodes in bipolar disorder is associated with significantly faster episode recurrence than asymptomatic recovery and whether this is the strongest correlate of early episode recurrence among 13 variables examined. DESIGN: An ongoing prospective, naturalistic, and systematic 20-year follow-up investigation of mood disorders: the National Institute of Mental Health Collaborative Depression Study. SETTING: Five academic tertiary care centers. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred twenty-three participants with bipolar disorder (type I or II) were followed up prospectively for a median of 17 years (mean, 14.1 [SD, 6.2] years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Participants defined as recovered by Research Diagnostic Criteria from their index major depressive episode and/or mania were divided into residual vs asymptomatic recovery groups and were compared according to the time to their next major affective episodes. RESULTS:Participants recovering with residual affective symptoms experienced subsequent major affective episodes more than 3 times faster than asymptomatic recoverers (hazard ratio, 3.36; 95% confidence interval, 2.25-4.98; P < .001). Recovery status was the strongest correlate of time to episode recurrence (P < .001), followed by a history of 3 or more affective episodes before intake (P = .007). No other variable examined was significantly associated with time to recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: In bipolar disorder, residual symptoms after resolution of a major affective episode indicate that the individual is at significant risk for a rapid relapse and/or recurrence, suggesting that the illness is still active. Stable recovery in bipolar disorder is achieved only when asymptomatic status is achieved.
Authors: Thilo Deckersbach; Britta K Hölzel; Lori R Eisner; Jonathan P Stange; Andrew D Peckham; Darin D Dougherty; Scott L Rauch; Sara Lazar; Andrew A Nierenberg Journal: CNS Neurosci Ther Date: 2011-04-02 Impact factor: 5.243
Authors: Lewis L Judd; Pamela J Schettler; Hagop Akiskal; William Coryell; Jan Fawcett; Jess G Fiedorowicz; David A Solomon; Martin B Keller Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2012-02-06 Impact factor: 4.839
Authors: Anda Gershon; Wesley K Thompson; Polina Eidelman; Eleanor L McGlinchey; Katherine A Kaplan; Allison G Harvey Journal: J Abnorm Psychol Date: 2012-07-30
Authors: A A Nierenberg; H S Akiskal; J Angst; R M Hirschfeld; K R Merikangas; M Petukhova; R C Kessler Journal: Mol Psychiatry Date: 2009-06-30 Impact factor: 15.992
Authors: Huaiyu Yang; Sarah Chuzi; Lara Sinicropi-Yao; Dan Johnson; Ying Chen; Alisabet Clain; Lee Baer; Patrick J McGrath; Jonathan W Stewart; Maurizio Fava; George I Papakostas Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2009-07-02 Impact factor: 5.270
Authors: Lauren B Marangell; Ellen B Dennehy; Sachiko Miyahara; Stephen R Wisniewski; Mark S Bauer; Mark Hyman Rapaport; Michael H Allen Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2008-08-15 Impact factor: 4.839