Functioning in bipolar disorder with substance abuse/dependence in a community sample of young adults.

<bold>Aim: </bold>To assess the functional impairment of young adults with bipolar disorder with substance abuse/dependence comorbidity.<bold>Method: </bold>Cross-sectional study within a community sample. Bipolar Disorder was assessed by qualified psychologists using The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview - PLUS (MINI-PLUS). Substance abuse and dependence was assessed using the "Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test" (ASSIST). Functional impairment was assessed using the Functional Assessment Short Test (FAST).<bold>Results: </bold>The sample included 1259 young adults. The prevalence of Bipolar Disorder (BD) without Substance Abuse/Dependence (SAD) comorbidity was 5.9% (n=74), and the prevalence of bipolar disorder with substance abuse/dependence comorbidity was 1.4% (n=17). Both groups showed higher impairment in overall functioning, interpersonal relationship, and leisure time as compared to controls. In addition, BD+SAD showed higher impairment in the cognitive functioning domain of FAST.<bold>Limitation: </bold>A battery of neuropsychological tests was not performed.<bold>Conclusion: </bold>Functional impairment is associated with BD, independently of substance abuse or dependence. In addition, BD+SAD present a more severe impairment in the cognitive domain of FAST as compared to controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]