BACKGROUND: The prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorders in the community is under debate and the prescription of antidepressant drugs (ADs) in bipolar depression appears to be an underestimated problem. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of bipolar disorders by means of a screening instrument in seven communities within six regions of Italy and evaluate the appropriateness and number of prescriptions for ADs in bipolar depression. STUDY DESIGN: community survey. STUDY POPULATION: samples randomly drawn, after stratification from the adult population of municipal records. SAMPLE SIZE: 4999 people from seven communities within six regions of Italy. Tools: questionnaire on psychotropic drug consumption, prescription, health services utilization; Structured Clinical Interview NP for DSM-IV modified (ANTAS); Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). Training: interviewers were trained psychologists or medical doctors. STUDY LIMITATIONS: the population studied did not represent a nationally representative multistage clustered area probability sample of households. RESULTS: 3398 subjects were interviewed (68% of recruited sample). Positivity at MDQ (MDQ+) was higher in males (3.4% vs. 2.8%) but the difference was not significant (OR=1.2, P=0.37). The association between MDQ+ and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) was statistically significant for both males (OR=14.9, P<0.0001) and females (OR=8.3, P<0.001); 30% of subjects with MDQ+ and MDD lifetime diagnosis were taking ADs. CONCLUSIONS: These overall rates of being MDQ+ are similar to community surveys conducted within USA and the use of ADs in people with MDQ+ and MDD diagnoses are.
BACKGROUND: The prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorders in the community is under debate and the prescription of antidepressant drugs (ADs) in bipolar depression appears to be an underestimated problem. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of bipolar disorders by means of a screening instrument in seven communities within six regions of Italy and evaluate the appropriateness and number of prescriptions for ADs in bipolar depression. STUDY DESIGN: community survey. STUDY POPULATION: samples randomly drawn, after stratification from the adult population of municipal records. SAMPLE SIZE: 4999 people from seven communities within six regions of Italy. Tools: questionnaire on psychotropic drug consumption, prescription, health services utilization; Structured Clinical Interview NP for DSM-IV modified (ANTAS); Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). Training: interviewers were trained psychologists or medical doctors. STUDY LIMITATIONS: the population studied did not represent a nationally representative multistage clustered area probability sample of households. RESULTS: 3398 subjects were interviewed (68% of recruited sample). Positivity at MDQ (MDQ+) was higher in males (3.4% vs. 2.8%) but the difference was not significant (OR=1.2, P=0.37). The association between MDQ+ and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) was statistically significant for both males (OR=14.9, P<0.0001) and females (OR=8.3, P<0.001); 30% of subjects with MDQ+ and MDD lifetime diagnosis were taking ADs. CONCLUSIONS: These overall rates of being MDQ+ are similar to community surveys conducted within USA and the use of ADs in people with MDQ+ and MDD diagnoses are.
Authors: Rafał R Jaeschke; Dominika Dudek; Roman Topór-Mądry; Katarzyna Drozdowicz; Wojciech Datka; Marcin Siwek; Janusz Rybakowski Journal: Braz J Psychiatry Date: 2016-12-08 Impact factor: 2.697
Authors: Carta Mauro Giovanni; Moro Maria Francesca; Kovess Viviane; Maria Veronica Brasesco; Krishna M Bhat; Angermeyer C Matthias; Hagop S Akiskal Journal: Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health Date: 2012-11-30
Authors: Mauro Giovanni Carta; Eugenio Aguglia; Filippo Caraci; Liliana Dell'Osso; Liliana Dell'osso; Guido Di Sciascio; Guido Di Sciascio; Filippo Drago; Emilio Del Giudice; Emilio Del Giudice; Carlo Faravelli; Maria Carolina Hardoy; Maria Efisia Lecca; Maria Francesca Moro; Salvatore Calò; Massimo Casacchia; Matthias Angermeyer; Matteo Balestrieri Journal: Clin Pract Epidemiol Ment Health Date: 2012-11-30