title: Is there a relationship between age at menarche and clinical and temperamental characteristics in bipolar disorder?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study investigated whether age at menarche in women with bipolar disorder (BD) is different from that in healthy women and if there is a relationship between age at menarche and clinical and temperamental characteristics of BD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We consecutively evaluated 126 euthymic women diagnosed with BD according to DSM-IV. The healthy control group comprised 100 individuals of similar mean age and socioeconomic level. After the diagnostic interview, BD patients completed the Mood Disorders Diagnosis and Follow-Up Form and Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Age at menarche in BD patients was similar to that in controls. A strong inverse correlation was found between age at menarche and total duration of depressive episodes (r = -0.532). In BD patients, an inverse correlation has been found between age at menarche and depressive and cyclothymic temperament scores (r = -0.384 and r = -0.421). However, a strong correlation has been found between age at menarche and irritable temperament scores (r = 0.488).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age at menarche is associated with the clinical course of BD. Moreover, age at menarche seems to be associated with traits related to mood.
authors: VA Erenköy Mental and Neurological Disease Training and Research Hospital, Department of Psychiatry Istanbul, Turkey. serminkesebir@hotmail.com
authors: Sermin
authors: S
authors: Kesebir
authors: Bilge
authors: B
authors: Yaşan Şair
authors: Başak
authors: B
authors: Unübol
authors: Elif
authors: E
authors: Tatlıdil Yaylacı
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D017668:Age of Onset; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008572:Menarche / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013694:Temperament; D055815:Young Adult