The concept of distinct but voluminous groups of bipolar and unipolar diseases. II. Unipolar diseases.

Seventy-six unipolar affective and 45 unipolar schizoaffective patients were compared using the same instruments as mentioned in part I of this study (this issue). In contrast to bipolar diseases significant differences regarding age at onset were found between the unipolar groups: schizoaffective unipolar patients became ill at a significantly lower age than affective unipolar patients (about 8 years). No other sociodemographic differences were found between the two groups. Patterns of course were found to be similar in both unipolar groups. Unipolar affective patients had a more favourable long-term outcome (GAS and WHO/DAS) than unipolar schizoaffective ones. Altogether, unipolar affective and unipolar schizoaffective disorders seems to have more similarities than differences.