title: The Stanley Foundation Bipolar Network: results of the naturalistic follow-up study after 2.5 years of follow-up in the German centres.
abstract: The Stanley Foundation Bipolar Network (SFBN) is an international, multisite network investigating the characteristics and course of bipolar disorder. Methods (history, ratings and longitudinal follow-up) are standardized and equally applied in all 7 centres. This article describes demographics and illness characteristics of the first 152 German patients enrolled in the SFBN as well as the results of 2.5 years of follow-up. Patients in Germany were usually enrolled after hospitalisation. More than 72% of the study population suffered from bipolar I disorder and 25% from bipolar II disorder. The mean +/- SD age of the study participants was 42.08 +/- 13.5 years, and the mean +/- SD age of onset 24.44 +/- 10.9 years. More than 40% of the sample reported a rapid-cycling course in history, and even more a cycle acceleration over time. 37% attempted suicide at least once. 36% had an additional Axis I disorder, with alcohol abuse being the most common one, followed by anxiety disorders. During the follow-up period, only 27% remained stable, 56% had a recurrence, 12.8% perceived subsyndromal symptoms despite treatment and regular visits. 27% suffered from a rapid-cycling course during the follow-up period. Recurrences were significantly associated with bipolar I disorder, an additional comorbid Axis I disorder, rapid cycling in history, a higher number of mood stabilizers and the long-term use of typical antipsychotics. Rapid cycling during follow-up was only associated with a rapid-cycling course in history, a higher number of mood stabilizers and at least one suicide attempt in history.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Munich, Munich, Germany. sandra.dittmann@psy.med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dittmann
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Biedermann
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Grunze
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hummel
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Schärer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kleindienst
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forsthoff
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matzner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walser
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D004522:Educational Status; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D013406:Suicide, Attempted