Unipolar mania: a distinct disorder?
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to identify the differences between unipolar mania and classical bipolar disorder.


METHODS
Patients with at least four manic episodes and at least 4 years of follow-up without any depressive episodes were classified as unipolar mania. This group was compared to other bipolar-I patients defined according to DSM-IV regarding their clinical and socio-demographic variables.


RESULTS
The rate for unipolar mania as defined by the study criteria was found to be 16.3% in the whole group of bipolar-I patients. Unipolar manic patients tended to have more psychotic features and be less responsive to lithium prophylaxis compared to other bipolar-I patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Because it was a retrospective study, there may be some minor depressive episodes left unrecorded in the unipolar mania group despite careful and thorough investigation. In addition, even with our fairly strict criteria for the diagnosis of unipolar mania, the possibility of a future depressive episode cannot be excluded.


CONCLUSIONS
Unipolar mania may be the presentation of a nosologically distinct entity.
Yazici
Olcay
O
University of Istanbul, Istanbul Medical Faculty Psychiatry Department, Capa, Istanbul, Turkey. jaleolcay@superonline.com
Kora
Kaan
K
Uçok
Alp
A
Saylan
Mete
M
Ozdemir
Ozay
O
Kiziltan
Emre
E
Ozpulat
Tuba
T
D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D012189:Retrospective Studies