title: Predominant polarity of bipolar patients in Israel.
abstract: Studies in European and American populations have suggested that the course of bipolar illness is most often characterised by a predominance of depressions over manias. The current chart review study suggests that among manic-depressive patients in Southern Israel, a predominately manic course of illness is more common. Unlike some previous studies, no sex differences were noted in type of illness course. Possible explanations for the main finding, including climate-related factors, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health Mental Health Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheva, Israel. yamy@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Osher
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yaroslavsky
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: el-Rom
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Belmaker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index