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Bipolar I and II versus unipolar depression: clinical differences and impulsivity/aggression traits.

Authors :
Dervic K
Garcia-Amador M
Sudol K
Freed P
Brent DA
Mann JJ
Harkavy-Friedman JM
Oquendo MA
Source :
European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists [Eur Psychiatry] 2015 Jan; Vol. 30 (1), pp. 106-13. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Oct 01.
Publication Year :
2015

Abstract

Objective: To investigate distinguishing features between bipolar I, II and unipolar depression, and impulsivity/aggression traits in particular.<br />Methods: Six hundred and eighty-five (n=685) patients in a major depressive episode with lifetime Unipolar (UP) depression (n=455), Bipolar I (BP-I) disorder (n=151), and Bipolar II (BP-II) (n=79) disorder were compared in terms of their socio-demographic and clinical characteristics.<br />Results: Compared to unipolar patients, BP-I and BP-II depressed patients were significantly younger at onset of their first depressive episode, and were more likely to experience their first depressive episode before/at age of 15. They also had more previous affective episodes, more first- and second-degree relatives with history of mania, more current psychotic and subsyndromal manic symptoms, and received psychopharmacological and psychotherapy treatment at an earlier age. Furthermore, BP-I and BP-II depressed patients had higher lifetime impulsivity, aggression, and hostility scores. With regard to bipolar subtypes, BP-I patients had more trait-impulsivity and lifetime aggression than BP-II patients whereas the latter had more hostility than BP-I patients. As for co-morbid disorders, Cluster A and B Personality Disorders, alcohol and substance abuse/dependence and anxiety disorders were more prevalent in BP-I and BP-II than in unipolar patients. Whereas the three groups did not differ on other socio-demographic variables, BP-I patients were significantly more often unemployed that UP patients.<br />Conclusion: Our findings comport with major previous findings on differences between bipolar and unipolar depression. As for trait characteristics, bipolar I and II depressed patients had more life-time impulsivity and aggression/hostility than unipolar patients. In addition, bipolar I and II patients also differed on these trait characteristics.<br /> (Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1778-3585
Volume :
30
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
25280430
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2014.06.005