Lower rates of comorbidities in euthymic bipolar patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study assessed the frequency of axis I psychiatric comorbidities in euthymic bipolar patients and the clinical differences between patients with and without comorbidities.


METHODS
In this study, 62 euthymic bipolar outpatients assessed using a clinical questionnaire underwent a structured diagnostic interview (SCID/CV-DSM-IV) as well as a symptoms evaluation (YMRS and HAM-D-17).


RESULTS
The lifetime frequency of patients with comorbidities was 27.4%. The most frequent comorbidities were anxiety disorders (33.7%), and the positive associated variables were more advanced age, the presence of a steady partner, a first episode of the depressive type and lifetime attempted suicide.


CONCLUSIONS
The lower frequency of comorbidities found in our study in comparison with those described in the literature may be due to the evaluation restricted only to euthymic patients. This suggests the importance of assessing psychiatric comorbidity in bipolar individuals while not in acute phases of the disorder.
Nery-Fernandes
Fabiana
F
Center for Study and Treatment of Affective Disorders (CETTA), Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador-Ba, Brazil. fabiana.nery@hotmail.com
Quarantini
Lucas C
LC
Galvão-De-Almeida
Amanda
A
Rocha
Marlos V
MV
Kapczinski
Flávio
F
Miranda-Scippa
Angela
A
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001938:Brazil; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult