title: Age at onset of first episode and time to treatment in in-patients with bipolar disorder.
abstract: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between age at onset and time to first pharmacological treatment in patients with either bipolar I or II disorder. A total of 146 consecutive in-patients acutely admitted from the same catchment area were included. Patients were divided into four age groups: 0-12 years (23%); 13-18 years (32%); 19-29 years (26%); and > or =30 years (18%). Mean age at first affective episode was 20.2 years (s.d.=11.8). This represents a similar pattern to the age at onset seen in out-patients in the USA. Early age at onset predicted a longer time to first pharmacological treatment (rho =-0.695, P<0.01).
authors.affiliation: Østmarka Psychiatric Department, St Olavs Hospital, Box 3008 Lade, Trondheim 7441, Norway. gunnar.morken@ntnu.no
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morken
authors.forename: Arne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Vaaler
authors.forename: Gunn E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Folden
authors.forename: Ole A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Andreassen
authors.forename: Ulrik F
authors.initials: UF
authors.lastname: Malt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult