title: [Predominant polarity in type-I bipolar patients: Study in an isolated population with a high prevalence of mood disorders].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have shown that the predominant description of polarity has effects upon early detection and the timely beginning of treatment in patients with bipolar affective disorder (BAD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross sectional cut and descriptive study in 101 BAD patients coming from a genetically isolated population from the Colombian Region of Antioquia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study covered a population of 101 patients with type-I BAD diagnosis, out of which 57,4% met the criteria for maniac polarity (MP), 10,1% exhibited depressive polarity (DP) and 25,7% were classified with Indefinite Polarity (IP). In comparison, MP patients have a lower education level and less starting age, including a greater number of single people. The MP group showed the greatest prevalence of suicide and greater use of cannabinoids and cocaine. Within the DP group there was a strong tendency to cigarette and alcohol consumption. With respect to pharmaceutical drugs consumed by the study patients during their lives, antipsychotics were the most widely used group, followed by lithium and anti-convulsivants. There is high percentage of MP patients who have used antidepressants during their lives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The polarity of the first episode of the disease seems to be a valid predictive parameter concerning the polarity of subsequent episodes; therefore, it works indirectly as a valid predictor of the disease's course.
authors.affiliation: Médico Psiquiatra, Grupo de Investigación en Psiquiatría, Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. Electronic address: antoniocarlostoro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Antonio Carlos Toro
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Obando
authors.affiliation: Médica Psiquiatra, Grupo de Investigación en Psiquiatría, Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Ángela María Agudelo
authors.initials: ÁM
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Terapeuta Ocupacional, Grupo de Investigación en Psiquiatría, Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: María Aurora Gallo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.affiliation: Médico General, Grupo de Investigación en Psiquiatría, Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Tomás Felipe Restrepo
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Palacio
authors.affiliation: Residente de cuarto año de Psiquiatría UGC Salud Mental Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, España.
authors.forename: Miguel Soto
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ontoso
authors.affiliation: Médica Psiquiatra, Grupo de Investigación en Psiquiatría, Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Alejandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tamayo
authors.affiliation: Médico Psiquiatra, MSc, PhD, Coordinador Grupo de Investigación en Psiquiatría, Departamento de Psiquiatría, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia; Grupo de Investigación en Psiquiatría (GIPSI), Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia.
authors.forename: Carlos Alberto López
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Jaramillo
keywords: Bipolar Affective disorder; Trastorno afectivo bipolar; genetically isolated population; mood disorder; población genéticamente aislada; polaridad predominante; predominant polarity; trastornos del ánimo