Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Trisha Suppes

Publications and source records attributed to Trisha Suppes.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Reproductive function and risk for PCOS in women treated for bipolar disorder.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined the reproductive function and prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women with bipolar disorder taking antimanic medications. METHOD: Women aged 18-45 treated for bipolar disorder and not taking steroid contraceptives were recruited to complete questionnaires about their menstrual cycle and to provide blood samples for measurement of a range of reproductive endocrine and metabolic hormone levels. Eighty women participated in completing the questionnaires and 72 of them provided blood samples. RESULTS: Fifty-two of the 80 women (65%) reported current menstrual abnormalities, 40 of which (50%) reported one or more menstrual abnormalities that preceded the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Fifteen women (38%) reported developing menstrual abnormalities since treatment for bipolar disorder, 14 of which developed abnormalities since treatment with valproate (p = 0.04). Of the 15 patients reporting menstrual abnormalities since starting medication, 12 (80%) reported changes in menstrual flow (heavy or prolonged bleeding) and five (33%) reported changes in cycle frequency. No significant differences were observed between women receiving or not receiving valproate in mean levels of free or total serum testosterone levels. This was true for the total sample and for the sub-group without preexisting menstrual problems. However, within the valproate group, duration of use was significantly correlated with free testosterone levels (r = 0.33, p = 0.02). Three of the 50 women (6%) taking VPA, and 0% of the 22 taking other antimanic medications, met criteria for PCOS (p = 0.20). Other reproductive and metabolic values outside the normal range across treatment groups included elevated 17 alpha-OH progesterone levels, luteinizing hormone: follicle-stimulating hormone ratios, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) values, and low estrogen and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels. Preexisting menstrual abnormalities predicted higher levels of 17 alpha-OH progesterone, free testosterone, and estrone as well as development of new menstrual abnormalities. Body mass index (BMI) was significantly positively correlated with free testosterone levels and insulin resistance (HOMA) across all subjects, regardless of medication used. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of menstrual disturbances are high in women with bipolar disorder and, in many cases, precede the diagnosis and treatment for the disorder. Treatment with valproate additionally contributes significantly to the development of menstrual abnormalities and an increase in testosterone levels over time. A number of bipolar women, regardless of type of medication treatment received, have reproductive and metabolic hormonal abnormalities, yet the etiology of such abnormalities requires further study. Women with preexisting menstrual abnormalities may represent a group at risk for development of reproductive dysfunction while being treated for bipolar disorder.

Adolescent↗

The efficacy of light therapy in the treatment of mood disorders: a review and meta-analysis of the evidence.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the evidence base for the efficacy of light therapy in treating mood disorders. METHOD: The authors systematically searched PubMed (January 1975 to July 2003) to identify randomized, controlled trials of light therapy for mood disorders that fulfilled predefined criteria. These articles were abstracted, and data were synthesized by disease and intervention category. RESULTS: Only 13% of the studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses revealed that a significant reduction in depression symptom severity was associated with bright light treatment (eight studies, having an effect size of 0.84 and 95% confidence interval [CI] of 0.60 to 1.08) and dawn simulation in seasonal affective disorder (five studies; effect size=0.73, 95% CI=0.37 to 1.08) and with bright light treatment in nonseasonal depression (three studies; effect size=0.53, 95% CI=0.18 to 0.89). Bright light as an adjunct to antidepressant pharmacotherapy for nonseasonal depression was not effective (five studies; effect size=-0.01, 95% CI=-0.36 to 0.34). CONCLUSIONS: Many reports of the efficacy of light therapy are not based on rigorous study designs. This analysis of randomized, controlled trials suggests that bright light treatment and dawn simulation for seasonal affective disorder and bright light for nonseasonal depression are efficacious, with effect sizes equivalent to those in most antidepressant pharmacotherapy trials. Adopting standard approaches to light therapy's specific issues (e.g., defining parameters of active versus placebo conditions) and incorporating rigorous designs (e.g., adequate group sizes, randomized assignment) are necessary to evaluate light therapy for mood disorders.

Adult↗

Comparison of rapid-cycling and non-rapid-cycling bipolar disorder based on prospective mood ratings in 539 outpatients.

OBJECTIVE: To detect risk factors for rapid cycling in bipolar disorder, the authors compared characteristics of rapid-cycling and non-rapid-cycling patients both from a categorical and a dimensional perspective. METHOD: Outpatients with bipolar I disorder (N=419), bipolar II disorder (N=104), and bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (N=16) were prospectively evaluated with daily mood ratings for 1 year. Subjects were classified as having rapid cycling (defined by the DSM-IV criterion of four or more manic or depressive episodes within 1 year) or not having rapid cycling, and the two groups' demographic and retrospective and prospective illness characteristics were compared. Associated factors were also evaluated in relationship to episode frequency. RESULTS: Patients with rapid cycling (N=206; 38.2%) significantly differed from those without rapid cycling (N=333) with respect to the following independent variables: history of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse, bipolar I disorder subtype, number of lifetime manic or depressive episodes, history of rapid cycling, and history of drug abuse. The prevalence of these characteristics increased progressively with episode frequency. The proportion of women was greater than the proportion of men only among patients with eight or more episodes per year. The average time spent manic/hypomanic increased as a function of episode frequency, but the average time spent depressed was comparable in patients with one episode and in those with more than one episode. Brief episodes were as frequent as full-duration DSM-IV-defined episodes. CONCLUSIONS: A number of heterogeneous risk factors were progressively associated with increasing episode frequency. Depression predominated in all bipolar disorder patients, but patients with rapid cycling were more likely to be characterized by manic features. The findings overall suggest that rapid cycling is a dimensional course specifier arbitrarily defined on a continuum of episode frequency.

Adult↗

Preliminary observations on the effectiveness of levetiracetam in the open adjunctive treatment of refractory bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Levetiracetam is a recently approved, well-tolerated anticonvulsant with a unique mechanism of action yielding efficacy in treatment-refractory seizure disorders and positive effects in an animal model of mania. Given the effectiveness of a range of other anticonvulsants in bipolar disorder, we sought to evaluate levetiracetam in patients with treatment-resistant illness. METHOD: Thirty-four patients received 500 to 1000 mg of levetiracetam titrated to a target dose of 2000 mg/day (maximum dose = 3000 mg/day) as open, adjunctive treatment for clinically significant symptoms of depression (N = 13), mania (N = 7), or cycling (N = 14) despite ongoing treatment with mood stabilizers. Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology-Clinician version (IDS-C), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and Clinical Global Impressions scale for use in Bipolar Illness ratings were completed at each visit for 8 weeks, and partial responders were offered continuation treatment. Data were collected from July 2001 to December 2002. RESULTS: Five of 16 (31%; 13 depressed, 3 cycling) patients with initial depressive symptoms met the criterion for remission (IDS-C score of < or = 13) at last observation. All of these patients were less severely ill at baseline, whereas none of those more severely depressed at baseline responded. The majority of the 16 patients (7 manic, 9 cycling) with manic symptoms at baseline showed improvement in the YMRS in the first 2 weeks. While 7 of the 16 (44%) patients met the criterion for manic response and remission at last observation, 4 showed intervening periods of moderate to marked exacerbation. Levetiracetam was weight neutral. CONCLUSION: Other pilot trials should explore possible areas of psychotropic action of levetiracetam prior to the conduct of more controlled clinical trials.

Adult↗

Open-label adjunctive zonisamide in the treatment of bipolar disorders: a prospective trial.

BACKGROUND: The response of 62 outpatients with DSM-IV bipolar disorders to open-label adjunctive zonisamide was evaluated in a prospective 8-week acute trial, followed by a 48-week continuation trial, conducted from June 2001 through May 2002. METHOD: During the acute trial, response to zonisamide was assessed weekly for the first 4 weeks and every 2 weeks for the second 4 weeks with the Clinical Global Impressions scale modified for bipolar illness (CGI-BP), the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), and the Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology (IDS). During the continuation trial, patients were assessed with these scales every 4 weeks. Patients' weights and side effects were also evaluated. Outcome measures were analyzed with repeated-measures analyses of variance. RESULTS: Patients with manic symptoms at study entry (N = 34) displayed significant reductions in CGI-BP-Mania Severity and YMRS scores in the acute and continuation (N = 19) trials (p values < .0001 and < .001, respectively). Patients with depressive symptoms at study entry (N = 22) showed significant decreases in CGI-BP-Depression Severity and IDS scores in the acute trial (p values < .001 and < .05, respectively), but only 9 patients entered the continuation trial. Among these 9 patients, maintenance of anti-depressant response was mostly maintained. Initially euthymic patients (N = 6) showed no change in any rating scale scores acutely, but 2 of 4 patients who entered the continuation trial developed depressive symptoms. The 62 patients as a group showed significant weight loss in both trials (p values < .001). However, 20 patients (32%) discontinued zonisamide for worsening mood symptoms. CONCLUSION: Adjunctive zonisamide was associated with beneficial effects on mood and body weight in some patients with bipolar disorders, but was also associated with a high discontinuation rate due to worsening mood symptoms. Double-blind, placebo-controlled studies are necessary to determine zonisamide's thymoleptic properties, if any, in bipolar disorders.

Adult↗

The Texas implementation of medication algorithms: update to the algorithms for treatment of bipolar I disorder.

BACKGROUND: A panel consisting of academic psychiatrists and pharmacist administrators of the Texas Department of State Health Services (formerly Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation), community mental health physicians, advocates, and consumers met in May 2004 to review new evidence in the pharmacologic treatment of bipolar I disorder (BDI). The goal of the consensus conference was to update and revise the current treatment algorithm for BDI as part of the Texas Implementation of Medication Algorithms, a statewide quality assurance program for the treatment of major psychiatric illness. The guidelines for evaluating possible medications, the criteria for selection and ranking, and the updated algorithms are described. METHOD: Principles from previous consensus conferences were reviewed and amended. Medication algorithms for the acute treatment of hypomanic/manic or mixed and depressive episodes in BDI were developed after examining recent efficacy and safety and tolerability data. Recommendations for maintenance treatments were developed. RESULTS: The panel updated the 2 primary algorithms (hypomanic/manic/mixed and depressive) based on clinical evidence for efficacy, tolerability, and safety developed since 2000. Expert consensus was utilized where clinical evidence was limited. Prevention of new episodes or prophylaxis treatment recommendations were developed based on recent data from longer-term trials. Maintenance recommendations are provided as levels versus a specified staged algorithm, as for acute treatment, due to the relatively limited database to inform treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These algorithms for the treatment of BDI represent the recommendations based on the most recent evidence available. These recommendations are meant to provide a framework for clinical decision making, not to replace clinical judgment. As with any algorithm, treatment practices will evolve beyond the recommendations of this consensus conference as new evidence and additional medications become available.

Algorithms↗

Challenges in the management of bipolar depression.

Bipolar depression has started to receive more attention in clinical trials only relatively recently, despite the fact that patients spend more time in the depressed phase than in the manic phase of bipolar disorder. The diagnosis and management of bipolar depression are challenging, and many patients are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed due to symptom similarities with unipolar depression or other illnesses and/or comorbidities. Untreated or inappropriately treated bipolar depression adds to the burden of illness and is associated with a greater risk of suicide. Treatment options include lithium, lamotrigine, atypical antipsychotics, and traditional antidepressants, such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. However, traditional antidepressants are recommended with caution due to their potential risk of switching patients into mania. Some atypical antipsychotics have shown efficacy in bipolar depression, although longer-term studies are warranted. The choice of treatment for different subgroups of patients with bipolar depression, including those with comorbid anxiety, may vary and also needs further study. Other important issues that require further investigation include the recognition of the core features of bipolar depression and the threshold symptoms for treatment, as well as the optimal treatment choices for monotherapy or combination therapy, and acute versus long-term management of bipolar depression.

Adult↗

Atypical antipsychotics in bipolar depression: potential mechanisms of action.

"Conventional" antidepressants, such as the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), bupropion, or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, are not recommended as monotherapy for bipolar depression. Although they are likely to provide effective symptom relief in combination with mood stabilizers, the risk of precipitating a switch to mania often complicates their use even as combination therapy. Recently, 2 psychotropic medications approved for treating acute mania, olanzapine and quetiapine, have also been shown to possess antidepressant activity without destabilizing mood and, as such, are potential mood stabilizers. This article aims to review the mechanism of action of conventional antidepressants and newer agents that are effective in the treatment of bipolar depression. A number of mechanisms have been postulated to play a role in the effective treatment of bipolar depression, including targets as diverse as serotonin (5-HT), norepinephrine, dopamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamate, and various second messenger signaling pathways. A review of the data reveals an important point of commonality among the antidepressant treatments, olanzapine, and quetiapine. Antidepressant treatments, such as norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs, and electroconvulsive therapy, induce a reduction of 5-HT(2A) receptors. Both olanzapine and quetiapine not only are antagonists at this receptor but also induce downregulation of 5-HT(2A) receptors. It is possible that the antidepressant efficacy of these agents is mediated by this receptor, while the additional benefit of olanzapine and quetiapine over unimodal antidepressant treatments, in terms of stabilizing mood, may be provided by their concomitant dopamine D(2) antagonism. Further studies should be conducted to examine these hypotheses.

Antipsychotic Agents↗

Low doses of clozapine may stabilize treatment-resistant bipolar patients.

Open, uncontrolled studies suggest clozapine can have mood-stabilizing effects in treatment-resistant bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, the side effect profile limits clozapine's use at high doses. We report a series of nine bipolar I disorder patients who improved on relatively low doses of clozapine add-on therapy (250 mg or lower). Retrospectively abstracted clinical data identified nine patients with bipolar I disorder, as defined by DSMIV criteria, treated with low-dose clozapine at inpatient and outpatient settings. Monthly symptom evaluations were collected prospectively using standard assessments. Symptoms of mania and mood lability improved in all patients. Three patients demonstrated striking mood stabilization and returned to previous levels of functioning; five patients evidenced moderate improvement in mood stabilization and functioning; and one patient showed a minimal response. Overall, clozapine did not have a significant antidepressant effect. The mean clozapine dose at the end of the study was 156.3 +/- 77.6 mg/day, and duration of treatment was 12 months. Residual side effects were mild. The symptomatic improvement in these prospectively evaluated patients is consistent with our clinical impression in the majority of patients with bipolar disorder taking clozapine.

Adult↗

Development of the Brief Bipolar Disorder Symptom Scale for patients with bipolar disorder.

The Brief Bipolar Disorder Symptom Scale (BDSS) is a 10-item measure of symptom severity that was derived from the 24-item Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS24). It was developed for clinical use in settings where systematic evaluation is desired within the constraints of a brief visit. The psychometric properties of the BDSS were evaluated in 409 adult outpatients recruited from 19 clinics within the public mental health system of Texas, as part of the Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP). The selection process for individual items is discussed in detail, and was based on multiple analyses, including principal components analysis with varimax rotation. Selection of the final items considered the statistical strength and factor loading of items within each of those factors as well as the need for comprehensive coverage of critical symptoms of bipolar disorder. The BDSS demonstrated good psychometric properties in this preliminary investigation. It demonstrated a strong association with the BPRS24 and performed similarly to the BPRS24 in its relationship to other symptom measures. The BDSS demonstrated superior sensitivity to symptom change, and an excellent level of agreement for classification of patients as either responders or non-responders with the BPRS24.

Ambulatory Care↗

Clinical results for patients with major depressive disorder in the Texas Medication Algorithm Project.

CONTEXT: The Texas Medication Algorithm Project is an evaluation of an algorithm-based disease management program for the treatment of the self-declared persistently and seriously mentally ill in the public mental health sector. OBJECTIVE: To present clinical outcomes for patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) during 12-month algorithm-guided treatment (ALGO) compared with treatment as usual (TAU). DESIGN: Effectiveness, intent-to-treat, prospective trial comparing patient outcomes in clinics offering ALGO with matched clinics offering TAU. SETTING: Four ALGO clinics, 6 TAU clinics, and 4 clinics that offer TAU to patients with MDD but provide ALGO for schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Patients Male and female outpatients with a clinical diagnosis of MDD (psychotic or nonpsychotic) were divided into ALGO and TAU groups. The ALGO group included patients who required an antidepressant medication change or were starting antidepressant therapy. The TAU group initially met the same criteria, but because medication changes were made less frequently in the TAU group, patients were also recruited if their Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale total score was higher than the median for that clinic's routine quarterly evaluation of each patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcomes included (1) symptoms measured by the 30-item Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Clinician-Rated scale (IDS-C(30)) and (2) function measured by the Mental Health Summary score of the Medical Outcomes Study 12-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) obtained every 3 months. A secondary outcome was the 30-item Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology-Self-Report scale (IDS-SR(30)). RESULTS: All patients improved during the study (P<.001), but ALGO patients had significantly greater symptom reduction on both the IDS-C(30) and IDS-SR(30) compared with TAU. ALGO was also associated with significantly greater improvement in the SF-12 mental health score (P =.046) than TAU. CONCLUSION: The ALGO intervention package during 1 year was superior to TAU for patients with MDD based on clinician-rated and self-reported symptoms and overall mental functioning.

Adult↗

Effects of clozapine on sleep in bipolar and schizoaffective disorders.

OBJECTIVE: Sleep disturbances are strongly associated with mood disorders, although the majority of data have been obtained in patients with major depressive disorder. Studies reporting results in bipolar disorder are few, and results have not been consistent. Clozapine is a prototype of atypical antipsychotics, which is effective in improving symptoms of manic episodes in patients with bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type and has been shown to influence sleep in other psychiatric disorders. The present study evaluated the sleep effects of clozapine in bipolar and schizoaffective disorders. METHODS: Participants were 11 women and 4 men (range:28-53 years of age, mean 40.9+/-8.6 years), all with a history of mania by DSM-IV criteria for either bipolar I disorder or schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type. They participated in a sleep study at baseline and again after 6 months initiation of clozapine add-on therapy. RESULTS: Sleep latency was longer on clozapine and the number of awakenings were increased, whereas time in bed (TIB) and total sleep period (TSP) were increased (range: F=6.2-17.9; df=l,12; p<0.05). Although none of the individual sleep stage showed significant treatment changes, both Stage 2 and slow-wave sleep were increased and Stage 2 decreased on clozapine. Subjective sleep measures improved on clozapine with a small but significant improvement in how rested patients felt upon awakening (t=-2.1; df=26; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Clozapine prolonged sleep latency, improved restedness, and increased total sleep time. Although lack of a control group limits interpretation of these results, they are in general agreement with studies in other psychiatric populations, and support the view that clozapine is primarily a NREM sleep enhancer. The improvement in restedness may be of positive clinical consequence.

Adult↗

The Texas medication algorithm project: clinical results for schizophrenia.

In the Texas Medication Algorithm Project (TMAP), patients were given algorithm-guided treatment (ALGO) or treatment as usual (TAU). The ALGO intervention included a clinical coordinator to assist the physicians and administer a patient and family education program. The primary comparison in the schizophrenia module of TMAP was between patients seen in clinics in which ALGO was used (n = 165) and patients seen in clinics in which no algorithms were used (n = 144). A third group of patients, seen in clinics using an algorithm for bipolar or major depressive disorder but not for schizophrenia, was also studied (n = 156). The ALGO group had modestly greater improvement in symptoms (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale) during the first quarter of treatment. The TAU group caught up by the end of 12 months. Cognitive functions were more improved in ALGO than in TAU at 3 months, and this difference was greater at 9 months (the final cognitive assessment). In secondary comparisons of ALGO with the second TAU group, the greater improvement in cognitive functioning was again noted, but the initial symptom difference was not significant.

Adolescent↗

Response to clozapine of rapid cycling versus non-cycling patients with a history of mania.

OBJECTIVE: Rapid cycling (RC) bipolar disorder (BD) patients often do not respond fully to mood-stabilizers. Atypical antipsychotics including clozapine may be good candidates as an alternative mood-stabilizer for these patients. METHODS: Twenty-eight treatment-resistant patients with either Bipolar Disorder Type I (n = 20), or Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type (n = 8) received clozapine add-on therapy. Patients were followed for up to 1 year. Patients were seen monthly and assessed on a number of symptom domains. RESULTS: Fifteen of 28 patients met RC criteria. Differences between groups was non-significant for reported age of onset, age at study entry, past history of treatment or hospitalization, or diagnosis. However, significantly more women were RC. More than 80% of patients in either group showed at least some improvement over the 1-year study. Random regression analyses found the non-rapid cycling (NRC) group experienced significantly greater improvement than RC patients (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Clozapine is more effective in NRC patients with a history of mania in comparison to patients with a recent history of RC.

Adult↗

Adjunctive stimulant use in patients with bipolar disorder: treatment of residual depression and sedation.

BACKGROUND: Residual depression and medication-induced sedation remain significant problems for many patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Some evidence indicates that bipolar depression may be more responsive to dopaminergic agents, suggesting that adjunctive stimulant medication may be an effective treatment for bipolar depression as well as for medication-induced sedation. However, there are few data regarding the use of these medications in BD, likely due in part to concerns regarding potential stimulant-induced switching and stimulant abuse. METHODS: In order to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of psychostimulants in BD, we retrospectively reviewed the cases of eight consecutive individuals from our clinic (five with bipolar I and three with bipolar II) who received adjunctive stimulants (either methylphenidate or amphetamine) within the last 2 years. Primary target symptoms of stimulant therapy included residual depression and medication-induced sedation. The degree of clinical change in target symptoms was estimated, and the Clinical Global Impression-BP Version scale (CGI-BP) was used to evaluate the overall severity of illness at baseline, 6 months after stimulant initiation, and at last visit. RESULTS: The eight patients generally showed moderate clinical improvement in their target symptoms and substantial improvement of overall bipolar illness (mean change in CGI-BP overall score 2.9). There was no evidence of stimulant-induced switching or abuse. The stimulants were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: The present case series suggests that adjunctive stimulants may be a reasonable therapeutic option for treating residual depression and medication-induced sedation in some patients. Controlled trials are needed to assess the safety and effectiveness of stimulant augmentation in BD.

Adult↗

Management of bipolar disorder during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

OBJECTIVE: Bipolar disorder affects 0.5%-1.5% of individuals in the United States. The typical age at onset is late adolescence or early adulthood, placing women at risk for episodes throughout their reproductive years. General guidelines for the treatment of bipolar disorder are available from the American Psychiatric Association, but additional issues arise when these guidelines are applied in the treatment of peripartum women. The authors summarize knowledge regarding the management of bipolar disorder during pregnancy and the postpartum period, with a focus on managing mania, hypomania, and the psychotic components of the illness. METHOD: An expert panel reviewed articles that address the management of bipolar disorder and the consequences of the use of mood stabilizers during pregnancy, and a consensus document was generated. RESULTS: The treatment of bipolar disorder in pregnant women involves significant challenges. Some mood stabilizers, e.g., sodium valproate and carbamazepine, are human teratogens. On the other hand, the teratogenicity associated with lithium may have been overestimated in the past. CONCLUSIONS: Since treatment can be managed most effectively if pregnancy is planned, clinicians should discuss the issue of pregnancy and its management with every bipolar disorder patient who has childbearing potential, regardless of future reproductive plans. Additional research should address the risks of disturbed sleep to pregnant and postpartum women with bipolar disorder, as well as structural and behavioral consequences to offspring when mood stabilizers are used during pregnancy. Longitudinal and cohort studies can promote these efforts. Given the rate of bipolar disorder in the general population, research efforts will need to be broad based and include multiple collaborating centers.

Adolescent↗

Correlates of 1-year prospective outcome in bipolar disorder: results from the Stanley Foundation Bipolar Network.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to examine potential correlates of outcome in patients treated for bipolar disorder. METHOD: During a 1-year period, 258 patients with DSM-IV bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder were rated with the prospective NIMH-Life Chart Method, which characterizes each day in terms of the severity of manic and depressive symptoms on the basis of patients' mood-related impairment in their usual educational, social, or occupational roles. Mean ratings for the severity of mania, depression, and overall bipolar illness and the number of manic, depressive, and overall illness episodes were calculated. Potential risk factors were assessed at the start of the study, and multivariate linear regression analysis was used to determine the correlates of the six 1-year outcome measures. RESULTS: Three of the six outcome measures were largely independent of each other and were used in the analysis. The mean rating for severity of mania was associated with comorbid substance abuse, history of more than 10 prior manic episodes, and poor occupational functioning at study entry. The mean rating for severity of depression was associated with a history of more than 10 prior depressive episodes and poor occupational functioning at study entry. The total number of overall illness episodes was associated with a positive family history of drug abuse, a history of prior rapid cycling, and poor occupational functioning. In addition, the mean rating for severity of mania and the total number of overall illness episodes were both initially associated with a history of childhood abuse, but these relationships were lost with the addition of other illness variables to the analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians who treat patients with bipolar disorder should consider a family history of drug abuse, a history of childhood abuse, prior course of illness, comorbid substance abuse, and occupational functioning in determining prognosis and setting goals for further treatment.

Adult↗