Outcome in manic disorders. A naturalistic follow-up study.
To study outcome in manic patients treated under routine clinical conditions, 73 manic and 66 unipolar depressed patients were followed up 1.7 years after hospitalization. A surprisingly large percentage of manic patients showed difficulty in post-hospital adjustment, and over 40% experienced a manic syndrome during the follow-up period. Manic patients showed poorer outcomes than did unipolar depressives. Manic patients taking lithium carbonate did not show better outcome than those not taking lithium carbonate. The results suggest (1) many hospitalized manic patients have a severe, recurrent, and pernicious disorder; and (2) in routine clinical practice, lithium carbonate treatment is an effective prophylaxis for fewer than the 70% to 80% of manic patients previously reported.
Harrow
M
M
Department of Psychiatry, Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, Ill 60616.
Goldberg
J F
JF
Grossman
L S
LS
Meltzer
H Y
HY
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012917:Social Adjustment
D016651:Lithium Carbonate; D008094:Lithium