Validity of the distinction between primary and secondary substance use disorder in patients with bipolar disorder: data from the first 1000 STEP-BD participants.
The validity of a primary/secondary substance use disorder (SUD) distinction was evaluated in the first 1000 patients enrolled in the Systematic Treatment Enhancement Program for Bipolar Disorder. Patients with primary SUD (n = 116) were compared with those with secondary SUD (n = 275) on clinical course variables. Patients with secondary SUD had fewer days of euthymia, more episodes of mania and depression, and a greater history of suicide attempts. These findings were fully explained by variations in age of onset of bipolar disorder. The order of onset of SUDs was not linked to bipolar outcomes when age of onset of bipolar disorder was statistically controlled. The primary/secondary distinction for SUD is not valid when variations in the age of onset of the non-SUD are linked to course characteristics.
Fossey
Mark D
MD
Department of Psychiatry, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine-Tulsa, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135, USA. mark-fossey@ouhsc.edu
Otto
Michael W
MW
Yates
William R
WR
Wisniewski
Steve R
SR
Gyulai
Laszlo
L
Allen
Michael H
MH
Miklowitz
David J
DJ
Coon
Kim A
KA
Ostacher
Michael J
MJ
Neel
Jackie L
JL
Thase
Michael E
ME
Sachs
Gary S
GS
Weiss
Roger D
RD
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010552:Personality Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome