Severity of bipolarity in hospitalized manic adolescents with history of stimulant or antidepressant treatment.
BACKGROUND
Childhood bipolarity (BP) and ADHD frequently co-occur, these children often receive stimulants.


METHODS
We retrospectively evaluated 80 adolescents hospitalized with BP, manic or mixed, assessed severity of hospital course, and compared groups according to current/past stimulant or antidepressant treatment.


RESULTS
Lifetime ADHD rate was 49%; 35% of patients had exposure to stimulants and 44% to antidepressants. Stimulant-exposed patients were younger than non-exposed (mean+/-S.D.=13.7+/-2 vs. 15.1+/-2 years, Z=-3.1, P=0.002). Only stimulant exposure was associated with worse hospitalization course (MANCOVA, Wilks' Lambda=0.87, F=3.4; df=70; P=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Stimulant-exposed BP-adolescents may have more severe illness course not fully explained by ADHD comorbidity.


CONCLUSIONS
Retrospective methodology and lack of structured interviewing make it difficult to quantify exposure to stimulants and antidepressants.
University of Cincinnati, Department of Psychiatry, Biological Psychiatry and Psychotic and Bipolar Disorders Research Programs, PO Box 670559, 231 Bethesda Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0559, USA. csoutullo@unav.es
Cesar A
CA
Soutullo
Melissa P
MP
DelBello
Jennifer E
JE
Ochsner
Susan L
SL
McElroy
Siobhan A
SA
Taylor
Stephen M
SM
Strakowski
Paul E
PE
Keck
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants