OBJECTIVE: Patients with bipolar disorder differ from patients with unipolar depression by having family histories of mania with an earlier onset and by having more episodes over a lifetime. This study was designed to determine whether additional aspects of course of illness, the presence of medical diseases, childhood traits, and other familial illnesses separate the two groups. METHOD: In a large collaborative study, consecutively admitted bipolar and unipolar patients were systematically given clinical interviews. Data were collected on medical diseases and childhood behavioral traits. Systematic family history and family study data were also obtained. The patients were studied every 6 months for 5 years. RESULTS: The group of bipolar patients had an earlier onset, a more acute onset, more total episodes, and more familial mania and were more likely to be male. These differences were relatively independent of each other. The bipolar patients were also more likely to have shown traits of hyperactivity as children. The unipolar patients had a significantly greater number of lifetime medical/surgical interventions than the bipolar patients, even when age was controlled. Alcoholism was more frequently found in the families of the bipolar patients, even when alcoholism in the probands was controlled; however, this difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the usefulness of distinguishing between bipolar and unipolar patients in treatment and research studies.
OBJECTIVE:Patients with bipolar disorder differ from patients with unipolar depression by having family histories of mania with an earlier onset and by having more episodes over a lifetime. This study was designed to determine whether additional aspects of course of illness, the presence of medical diseases, childhood traits, and other familial illnesses separate the two groups. METHOD: In a large collaborative study, consecutively admitted bipolar and unipolar patients were systematically given clinical interviews. Data were collected on medical diseases and childhood behavioral traits. Systematic family history and family study data were also obtained. The patients were studied every 6 months for 5 years. RESULTS: The group of bipolarpatients had an earlier onset, a more acute onset, more total episodes, and more familial mania and were more likely to be male. These differences were relatively independent of each other. The bipolarpatients were also more likely to have shown traits of hyperactivity as children. The unipolar patients had a significantly greater number of lifetime medical/surgical interventions than the bipolarpatients, even when age was controlled. Alcoholism was more frequently found in the families of the bipolarpatients, even when alcoholism in the probands was controlled; however, this difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the usefulness of distinguishing between bipolar and unipolar patients in treatment and research studies.
Authors: Joseph Biederman; Stephen V Faraone; Carter Petty; Marykate Martelon; K Yvonne Woodworth; Janet Wozniak Journal: J Psychiatr Res Date: 2012-09-11 Impact factor: 4.791
Authors: Benjamin G Shapero; Jonathan P Stange; Kim E Goldstein; Chelsea L Black; Ashleigh R Molz; Elissa J Hamlat; Shimrit K Black; Angelo S Boccia; Lyn Y Abramson; Lauren B Alloy Journal: Int J Cogn Ther Date: 2015-03
Authors: Tiffany A Greenwood; Eun-Jeong Joo; Tatyana Shekhtman; A Dessa Sadovnick; Ronald A Remick; Paul E Keck; Susan L McElroy; John R Kelsoe Journal: Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet Date: 2012-12-19 Impact factor: 3.568
Authors: Ariel G Gildengers; Ellen M Whyte; Rebecca A Drayer; Isabella Soreca; Andrea Fagiolini; Amy M Kilbourne; Patricia R Houck; Charles F Reynolds; Ellen Frank; David J Kupfer; Benoit H Mulsant Journal: Am J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2008-03 Impact factor: 4.105