title: Predictability of course of illness in manic patients positive for life events.
abstract: The intention of this study was to examine the possibility of predicting course of illness in manic patients, using a stress variable as a predictor, together with other more traditional indices. On the basis of information on three easily available parameters--family history, age at onset, and stress intensity--20 manic patients who had independent life events preceding an index admission were allocated into various risk groups and predictions were then made with regard to future course of illness for 5 years. On follow-up, the predictions were found to be correct in 85% of cases overall, and two high-risk factors were totally predictive.
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000235:genetics; D011336:Probability