C Hammen1, M Gitlin. 1. Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, 90095-160, USA. hammen@psych.ucla.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Two questions were posed: Does stress precipitate episodes of bipolar I disorder, and does sensitivity to stress differ in episodes later in the course of illness compared to early ones? METHOD: Fifty-two patients with bipolar I disorder were followed longitudinally for up to 2 years; clinical course was monitored, and interview assessments of life events were made every 3 months. RESULTS: The patients who had episodes of illness during follow-up had experienced significantly more severe stressors and more total stress in the preceding 6 months, and more total stress in the preceding 3 months, than those without episodes. Inconsistent with Post's stress "sensitization" hypothesis, patients with more prior episodes were more likely to have episodes following major stressors, and they relapsed more rapidly. CONCLUSIONS: Stressors may precipitate episodes of bipolar illness, especially for patients with more prior episodes. Different versions of the stress sensitization model remain to be tested.
OBJECTIVE: Two questions were posed: Does stress precipitate episodes of bipolar I disorder, and does sensitivity to stress differ in episodes later in the course of illness compared to early ones? METHOD: Fifty-two patients with bipolar I disorder were followed longitudinally for up to 2 years; clinical course was monitored, and interview assessments of life events were made every 3 months. RESULTS: The patients who had episodes of illness during follow-up had experienced significantly more severe stressors and more total stress in the preceding 6 months, and more total stress in the preceding 3 months, than those without episodes. Inconsistent with Post's stress "sensitization" hypothesis, patients with more prior episodes were more likely to have episodes following major stressors, and they relapsed more rapidly. CONCLUSIONS: Stressors may precipitate episodes of bipolar illness, especially for patients with more prior episodes. Different versions of the stress sensitization model remain to be tested.
Authors: Snezana Urosević; Lyn Y Abramson; Lauren B Alloy; Robin Nusslock; Eddie Harmon-Jones; Rachel Bender; Michael E Hogan Journal: J Abnorm Psychol Date: 2010-08
Authors: J Sasse; M Pilhatsch; A Forsthoff; H Grunze; J Neutze; A Pfennig; B Schmitz; A Schwenkhagen; M Bauer Journal: Nervenarzt Date: 2009-03 Impact factor: 1.214