Comorbidity in bipolar disorder among the elderly: results from an epidemiological community sample.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to determine psychiatric comorbidity among elderly individuals with bipolar disorder.


METHODS
An epidemiological community survey identified 84 elderly (ages >/=65) respondents with bipolar disorder, 1,327 younger adults with bipolar disorder, and 8,121 elderly respondents without bipolar disorder.


RESULTS
Elderly respondents with bipolar disorder reported lifetime and 12-month rates of comorbid alcohol use disorders (38.1%, 38.1%, respectively), dysthymia (15.5%, 7.1%), generalized anxiety disorder (20.5%, 9.5%), and panic disorder (19.0%, 11.9%) that were significantly higher than among elderly respondents without bipolar disorder. They had lower lifetime and 12-month rates of alcohol use disorders and lower 12-month rates of dysthymia and panic disorder than younger adults with bipolar disorder. Elderly men with bipolar disorder reported a greater prevalence of alcoholism; women reported a greater prevalence of panic disorder.


CONCLUSIONS
Comorbid axis I disorders, including panic disorder, are common among elderly individuals with bipolar disorder.
Goldstein
Benjamin I
BI
Department of Psychiatry, Sunnybrook and Women's Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3M5. benjamin.goldstein@utoronto.ca.
Herrmann
Nathan
N
Shulman
Kenneth I
KI
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors