title: Impulsivity and functional impairment in bipolar disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impulsivity is substantially higher in bipolar patients (BP) and may be associated with a more severe course of illness, but no studies have so far examined the relationship between impulsivity and functional outcome in BP. Our goal was to investigate the functional impact of trait-impulsivity in BP.
  
  
  METHODS
  138 euthymic BP were recruited. All patients were assessed using an interview based on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID). The Functioning Assessment Short Test (FAST) and the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) were used to assess functional outcome and impulsivity, respectively. Seven multiple linear regressions, with each individual FAST subscale scores and overall FAST score as dependant variables, were conducted in order to evaluate the predictive role of trait-impulsivity on functional outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After a multiple linear regression model, with the FAST total score as dependent variable, we found that depressive symptoms (β=1.580; p<0.001), number of hospitalizations (β=0.837; p=0.019) and impulsivity (β=0.319; p=0.004) were independently associated with overall functional impairment (F=6.854, df=9, p<0.001, adjusted R2=0.311).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cross-sectional design of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that impulsivity, as well as depressive symptoms and the number of hospitalizations, is associated with overall functional impairment in BP. The assessment and treatment of impulsivity may be useful in improving functional outcome in BP.
authors: Bipolar Disorder Program, Hospital Clinic, University of Barcelona, IDIBAPS, CIBERSAM, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Jiménez
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Arias
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Castellví
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Goikolea
authors: A R
authors: AR
authors: Rosa
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Fañanás
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Vieta
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Benabarre
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis