Duration of untreated illness in first-treatment bipolar I disorder in relation to clinical outcome and cannabis use.
There is little knowledge about the role of the duration of untreated bipolar (DUB) illness in first-treatment bipolar disorder I (BD I), its association with symptoms at start of first treatment, and development over the first year, and limited knowledge about factors that influence the length of DUB. Substance use has shown to delay identification of primary psychiatric disorders, and while cannabis use is common in BD the role of cannabis in relationship to DUB is unclear. The aim of the present study is to examine the associations between DUB and key clinical outcomes at baseline in BD I, and at one year follow-up, and to evaluate the influence of cannabis use. Patients with first-treatment BD I (N=62) completed comprehensive clinical evaluations, which included both DUB and the number of previous episodes. There were no significant associations between DUB and key clinical outcomes. Longer duration from first manic episode to treatment was associated with risk of starting excessive cannabis use after onset of the bipolar disorder. The main finding is the lack of significant associations between features of previous illness episodes and clinical outcomes. Long duration of untreated mania seems to increase the risk for later cannabis use.
NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway TOP Study, Oslo University Hospital, Building 49, Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, PO Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: l.r.kvitland@medisin.uio.no.
Levi Røstad
LR
Kvitland
Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: p.a.ringen@medisin.uio.no.
Petter Andreas
PA
Ringen
NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway TOP Study, Oslo University Hospital, Building 49, Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, PO Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway; Division of Mental Health Services, Department of Specialized Inpatient Treatment, Akershus University Hospital, Akershus, Norway. Electronic address: s.r.aminoff@medisin.uio.no.
Sofie Ragnhild
SR
Aminoff
NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway TOP Study, Oslo University Hospital, Building 49, Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, PO Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: christine.demmo@medisin.uio.no.
Christine
C
Demmo
NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway TOP Study, Oslo University Hospital, Building 49, Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, PO Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: tone.hellvin@medisin.uio.no.
Tone
T
Hellvin
NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway TOP Study, Oslo University Hospital, Building 49, Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, PO Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: t.v.lagerberg@medisin.uio.no.
Trine Vik
TV
Lagerberg
NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway TOP Study, Oslo University Hospital, Building 49, Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, PO Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: o.a.andreassen@medisin.uio.no.
Ole Andreas
OA
Andreassen
NORMENT, KG Jebsen Centre for Psychosis Research, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital and Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway TOP Study, Oslo University Hospital, Building 49, Ullevål, Kirkeveien 166, PO Box 4956 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: Ingrid.melle@medisin.uio.no.
Ingrid
I
Melle
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000074609:Marijuana Use / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
Bipolar disorder; Cannabis; Clinical outcome; Duration of untreated illness; First-treatment