The lifetime prevalence of bipolar disorders and the use of antidepressant drugs in bipolar depression in Italy.
BACKGROUND
The prevalence of bipolar spectrum disorders in the community is under debate and the prescription of antidepressant drugs (ADs) in bipolar depression appears to be an underestimated problem.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the prevalence of bipolar disorders by means of a screening instrument in seven communities within six regions of Italy and evaluate the appropriateness and number of prescriptions for ADs in bipolar depression.


METHODS



METHODS
community survey.


METHODS
samples randomly drawn, after stratification from the adult population of municipal records.


METHODS
4999 people from seven communities within six regions of Italy. Tools: questionnaire on psychotropic drug consumption, prescription, health services utilization; Structured Clinical Interview NP for DSM-IV modified (ANTAS); Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ). Training: interviewers were trained psychologists or medical doctors.


CONCLUSIONS
the population studied did not represent a nationally representative multistage clustered area probability sample of households.


RESULTS
3398 subjects were interviewed (68% of recruited sample). Positivity at MDQ (MDQ+) was higher in males (3.4% vs. 2.8%) but the difference was not significant (OR=1.2, P=0.37). The association between MDQ+ and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) was statistically significant for both males (OR=14.9, P<0.0001) and females (OR=8.3, P<0.001); 30% of subjects with MDQ+ and MDD lifetime diagnosis were taking ADs.


CONCLUSIONS
These overall rates of being MDQ+ are similar to community surveys conducted within USA and the use of ADs in people with MDQ+ and MDD diagnoses are.
Department of Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
Mauro Giovanni
MG
Carta
Eugenio
E
Aguglia
Matteo
M
Balestrieri
Joseph R
JR
Calabrese
Filippo
F
Caraci
Liliana
L
Dell'Osso
Guido
G
Di Sciascio
Filippo
F
Drago
Carlo
C
Faravelli
Maria Efisia
ME
Lecca
Maria Francesca
MF
Moro
Marcello
M
Nardini
Gabriella
G
Palumbo
Maria Carolina
MC
Hardoy
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
D000928:Antidepressive Agents