Clinical correlates of psychiatric comorbidity in bipolar I patients.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain the clinical implications of psychiatric comorbidity in the course and outcome of bipolar I patients.


METHODS
One hundred and twenty-nine bipolar I outpatients in remission [Young Mania Rating Scale (Y-MRS) < 7, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) < 9] were assessed by means of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R axis I and axis II (SCID-I and SCID-II) in order to detect all possible psychiatric comorbid diagnoses. The sample was split according to the presence of psychiatric comorbidity and the groups were compared.


RESULTS
Psychiatric comorbidity was detected in 31% of the sample. A higher number of mixed features, depressive episodes and suicide attempts and a predominance of depressive onset amongst comorbid bipolar patients were the most relevant differences between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
There is an association between depression, suicidality and comorbidity in bipolar I disorder. As comorbidity had a clear relevance in the course and outcome of bipolar illness, this issue should be specifically assessed in clinical practice.
Vieta
E
E
Barcelona Stanley Foundation Research Center, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, Spain. evieta@clinic.ub.es
Colom
F
F
Corbella
B
B
Martínez-Arán
A
A
Reinares
M
M
Benabarre
A
A
Gastó
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology