Patients with bipolar illness admitted to a general medical service.
BACKGROUND
This study was done to assess the size and characteristics of the patient population with bipolar illness treated on the general medical service of two divisions of the Charleston Area Medical Center, the largest hospital complex in West Virginia.


METHODS
A total of 779 admitting and/or discharge summaries were reviewed.


RESULTS
The average age of the manic patients (50.5 years) was lower than that of schizophrenic patients (56.1 years) or the general population (58.9 years). The most common reasons for admission in the manic group were chest pain (5 patients) and drug overdose (4 patients). Alcohol abuse was more common in the bipolar group (20%) than in the schizophrenic group (11%) or the general population (12%).


CONCLUSIONS
Additional studies of the prevalence of bipolar disorder in West Virginia are warranted.
Kitchen
Lynn W
LW
Department of Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine/Charleston Division, USA.
D000046:Academic Medical Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006769:Hospitals, General / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014903:West Virginia / Q000453:epidemiology