Characteristics and clinical changes during hospitalization in bipolar and psychotic disorder patients with versus without substance-use disorders.
BACKGROUND
Co-morbid substance-use disorders (SUDs) are prevalent among patients with severe psychiatric disorders, but the characteristics of such patients remain incompletely defined, and their current treatments and responses, poorly documented.


METHODS
We evaluated the records of 481 consecutive inpatients diagnosed with DSM-IV bipolar or schizoaffective disorders, or schizophrenia, admitted to McLean Hospital in 2004 or 2009. Demographic and clinical characteristics, and treatments, were extracted from hospital and pharmacy records for bivariate and multivariate analyses.


RESULTS
SUD prevalence increased 1.84-times from 2004 (31.3%) to 2009 (57.6%). Patients with (n=204) versus without co-morbid SUDs (n=277) were similar in many respects, but in multivariate modeling, the following factors were more likely with SUD, in rank-order: co-morbid anxiety disorders > men more than women > greater prevalence in 2009 vs. 2004 > younger age > greater doses of mood-stabilizers > shorter hospitalization.


CONCLUSIONS
Hospitalized patients with severe primary psychiatric disorders, and comorbid SUD were more likely to be young and have anxiety disorders, to receive more combinations and higher doses of mood-stabilizers, and show more improvement in impulsivity and hostility, but otherwise differed little in treatment-responses. Prevalence of SUD rose substantially in the past five years, with increased but largely unproved use of mood-stabilizers.
Vincenti
A
A
Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Sensory Functions (NESMOS), Second Medical School, Sapienza University of Rome, and Unit of Psychiatry, Sant' Andrea Hospital, Rome, Italy.
Ventriglio
A
A
Baldessarini
R J
RJ
Talamo
A
A
Fitzmaurice
G
G
Centorrino
F
F
D000328:Adult; D018692:Antimanic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D015897:Comorbidity; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056687:Off-Label Use; D019338:Polypharmacy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018692:Antimanic Agents; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents